In one of its many meta moments, buddy cop comedy 22 Jump Street concisely lays out its own game plan. “Do the same thing as last time,” its characters are instructed, “[and] everyone’s happy.” And that is precisely what the film does. The sequel to 2012’s 21 Jump Street (which itself was based on the 1980s crime drama) sticks to the template of its predecessor while doling out the same brand of self-referential humour that made the first movie such a surprising delight.
The target, this time, are sequels and their inherent trappings. Officers Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are on a mission almost identical to the one that made them a success in the previous instalment — busting a drug ring by going undercover and posing as college students. But before they can unmask the perpetrators, they realise that being a pretend college student comes with its own set of problems. When they make new friends and bond with kindred spirits — with Jenko gravitating towards the jocks and Schmidt finding himself amidst the artsy, bohemian crowd — their bromance is put to test, making it uncertain whether their partnership will survive this episode.
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have once again created a zany, playful comedy that is high on energy and brimming with self-awareness. The plot doesn’t seem to hold much weight and it (intentionally) isn’t the most important element of the film. Instead, it’s the meta-commentary that propels the movie’s engine. As it spoofs itself and makes fun of its own existence, 22 Jump Street misses no chance to remind us that this is a sequel about sequels, repeatedly finding humour in franchise clichés, thanks to a sly script that never fails to make you laugh. Even its end credits vignette, which features a mock montage of future instalments, is a hoot and makes an amusing short in itself.
The odd couple dynamics between its leads have also been put to good use. Both Tatum and Hill are in fine form here and seem totally committed to their goofy roles. The supporting talent is also impressive, led with a knowing wink by Ice Cube and Nick Offerman who play Jenko and Schmidt’s superiors. Other standouts include Wyatt Russell, who portrays a jock that sparks camaraderie with Jenko, the Lucas Brothers, who play a pair of stoner twins that occupy a neighbouring dorm room, and Jillian Bell as Schmidt’s new girlfriend’s (Amber Stevens) intensely hostile roommate.
Of course, sticking to the same template also has its downsides. The humour becomes a tad predictable, and the proceedings aren’t as exciting as they were the first time around. Moreover, at times it feels like the movie rambles on, and sometimes it repeats its jokes too many times, drawing out the gags longer than it should.
The overall viewing experience, however, is very enjoyable thanks to a witty script and slick performances. The film is likely to amuse viewers who enjoyed the first instalment of the series.
For more crime comedy
1. The Heat
Melissa McCarthy plays a talented cop with atrocious behaviour problems, who is teamed up with the overtly ambitious Sandra Bullock. The two make an unlikely pair but end up becoming friends as they quickly learn that their differences complement each other.
2. Plastic
Sam and Fordy find themselves desperate to make some quick cash after their credit card fraud scheme victimises a dangerous man. With their lives on the line, they will do just about anything to reimburse the man, including a dangerous diamond heist.
3 Let’s be cops
Justin and Ryan revel in their newly-earned fame after their whole neighbourhood mistakes them for cops. However, things get complicated when they are actually expected to catch the bad guys and become involved with local crime lords in the process.
Rating: 3/5
Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, October 12th, 2014.
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