21 Jump Street - (March 16th, 2012): R
Distributor: Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Opening Weekend Box Office: #1 with $36,302,612
Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: $56,001,000
Gross Revenue: $63,001,000
Production Budget: $42 million
Directors: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
For those of you who don’t know, the original 21 Jump Street television show ran from 1987 to 1991, and definitely had more of a dramatic slant, so fans of the show weren’t exactly the target audience for the film adaptation, which was clearly going to be focusing on comedy. The key demographic who would respond to an R-rated action comedy were infants during the show’s first run, so nostalgia wasn’t going to help fill theaters; instead, marketing efforts were clearly going to have to focus on the novelty of seeing Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum work together. Each of the actors has a definitive fan-base, but both were going to playing against character, as Hill would have to tackle gun fights and car chases, while Tatum would have to generate credible laughs...and given that Hill contributed as a co-writer for the script and both earned executive producer credits, there was plenty to prove on both ends. Between the promotional appearances on Comedy Central and the extended trailers, I had to appreciate some of the creative positioning applied to 21 Jump Street, as the idea of a second chance at high school was pitched just as strongly as the comedic slant…what a way to draw those who are far enough removed from high school to see the appeal of such a concept. Plain-and simple, based on what I had seen thus far, I was promised good laughs and an engaging story with 21 Jump Street, and given early critical reaction, it didn’t look like I would be disappointed.
21 Jump Street introduces audiences to Officers Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum), former polar-opposite classmates who reunited and built a strong friendship at the police academy. After bungling their first bust, as Jenko forgot to read the Miranda rights, the two are reassigned to an undercover division run by the short-tempered Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), one which specializes in using youthful-looking cops to infiltrate high schools. Schmidt and Jenko are tasked with returning to their old high school and stopping the distribution of a new synthetic drug that is causing dangerous overdoses. Things get complicated when their identities are switched and Schmidt ends up a popular jock while Jenko is assigned to honors science courses, thereby attracting the attention of teachers like the P.E. Coach, Mr. Walters (Rob Riggle), and the science lab instructor, Ms. Griggs (Ellie Kemper). Initially reveling in their reversed roles, Schmidt and Jenko quickly identify the popular student Eric (Dave Franco) as the supplier, but Schmidt soon gets lost in the attention he receives from popular student Molly (Brie Larson). As old tensions and insecurities begin to rise, the two friends must find a common ground in order to stop the school’s growing drug trade, thereby proving their competency as police officers.
I mentioned earlier that 21 Jump Street is the funniest film that I have seen in recent memory, and what separates this comedy from others like Bridesmaids or Horrible Bosses is the fact that the laughs are consistent from start-to-finish. Pulling absolutely no punches in terms of offensive humor, this film will have you rolling in your seats as Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum showcase masterful comedic chemistry and timing, whether they are resorting to ad-libbing or physical comedy…you know the movie if funny when you can see the actors trying to hold-back laughs on-screen. Channing Tatum has already proved his competency in the romance and action genres, but after 21 Jump Street, I definitely want to see him in more comedies; as for the rest of the supporting cast, Dave Franco demonstrates some of his older brother (James Franco)’s comedic talents, while Rob Riggle is characteristically wild, but one of the biggest surprise is Ice Cube as the stereotypical angry black police captain. Another one of the bigger surprises is the skillful use of the original show’s alumni in cameos, with Holly Robinson Peete, Peter DeLuise, and Johnny Depp all adding extra laughs and novelty to the narrative. With so many laughs, 21 Jump Street is the kind of movie that you will want to see again and again in order to remember more quotes, and the second that the end credits begin to roll, you will be begging for a sequel.
Now, while some may be tempted to write-off the laughs of 21 Jump Street as nothing more than excessive use of foul language and crude subject matter, the reality is that the film makes skillful usage of an intriguing concept and is self-aware enough not to take itself too seriously. Absolutely everyone has some regrets associated with high school, and we have all questioned how we would have done things differently, so there is an inherent appeal in watching Hill and Tatum return and have their traditional roles reversed in a familiar setting that is no longer familiar…watching a nerd revel in his new popularity or a former jock squirm in honors classes is hysterical. I also loved how the narrative took the time to make fun of its own components and challenge traditional elements of a cop film, whether the two cops abuse their privileges to throw an epic party or brace themselves for the expected explosions that usually occur during a chase scene. For instance, while chasing suspects along the freeway, Schmidt and Jenko repeatedly flinch as tankers filled with flammable liquid crash, but nothing explodes until a truck filled with poultry detonates after getting a flat tire…the questioning expression on their faces is priceless, and the unexpected take on the traditional is brilliant. So, in addition to being remarkably funny, 21 Jump Street is also remarkably creative, and that is what makes this unconventional comedy worth seeing.
From a box office perspective, it looks like the apparent disparity between fans of the original and today’s desired audiences made no difference, and the star-studded marketing efforts did their job, as 21 Jump Street debuted with a commanding and truly impressive opening weekend. It may have been the only wide-release in its first weekend, but a $36 million debut and 1st place finish helped showcase the film’s quality and draw, as well as the increased audience attendance that traditionally accompanies the spring months. I expect that this comedy will continue to draw-in significant revenue, as it will not face any direct competition at the box office until American Reunion opens on April 6th. Given the strong financial performance of the film, the positive critical reaction, and the narrative’s open ending, Sony Pictures has already green-lit a sequel, and I personally cannot wait to see Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum reunite. Bottom line, if you are looking for a good laugh and enjoy comedy on any level, then you cannot afford to miss 21 Jump Street…enjoy.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
