Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

21 Jump Street is funny, not gross

21+Jump+Street+is+funny%2C+not++gross

Ally Johnson  Journal Staff

21 Jump Street is full of surprises. Number one: it isn’t all gross-out humor. Number two: Channing Tatum can act and be funny. Number three: this movie is genuinely funny beginning to end and not all of the jokes are stuffed into the trailer.

This film is based on an old television series from the 80s that starred Johnny Depp. The plot is set around undercover cops dedicating the majority of their work to youth crime, and the movie uses the same structure and plays it for laughs.
However, this isn’t to say the movie isn’t without faults. Some jokes run too long, like one concerning a gun and some gentiles. Jonah Hill being a reasonable option for Molly (Brie Larson of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and The United States of Tara) is absurd because Hills’ character is supposed to be around 10 years older than Larson’s high school character. Also, the last 20 minutes use an abundance of offensive female stereotypes.
But brush that all away and tweaking some mishaps leaves a strong script with some laugh-out-loud moments. A particular standout is when Hill and Tatum’s characters are experiencing the four stages that an individual goes through after taking an experimental drug. Tatum is allowed to show off a great amount of physical humor while Hill allows any fears to slip away as he shows of his vocal “prowess.”
The highlight of this movie is how hyper aware it is to pop culture. In a business where movie stars in high school films never look like actual teenagers, this film actively makes a joke about it, like throwing in gags about how Tatum’s character Jenko looks 40. They also address with some heavy tongue and cheek how people today are always pilfering other ideas, lacking originality to come up with something new.
The tight script and humorous acting makes for an overall fun film.

 

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21 Jump Street is funny, not gross