21.5 Jump Street

I remember 21 Jump Street about as much as I remember Head of the class. Which is not to say much. I just watched the most recent 21 Jump Street…. again. I was at the library looking at movies to rent (yes you can checkout movies from your local library). I grabbed 21 Jump Street because I couldn’t remember what happened in the movie the first time I checked it out. I’d bet a horse and a few CD’s that I passed out during my first viewing of this film. So after my second take, I feel obligated to express my thoughts on a television show that was re-made into a movie.

If you haven’t seen 21 Jump Street it was a show from the late 80’s that starred a young Johnny Depp (one of my nonblack heroes), Holly Robinson, and Richard Grieco. These individuals played police officers who agree to go undercover to infiltrate a potential drug ring taking place in a local high school. These particular cops, due to their prepubescent appearance, are given this assignment.

The stars of the re-make are Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. They are the flunkie cops who are assigned to revive 21 Jump Street, which apparently died during the 80’s. I enjoyed the movie; who would have thunk to pair Tatum with Hill… brilliant. Tatum is an actor which I believe has aspirations to become a serious actor so I take my hat off to him for taking on this role. And, Hill… well he plays another version of his character in Superbad with less weight. So the classic jock meets nerd and become friends story. What I liked most about the movie is how they conveyed what was cool in their high school days and what is considered cool in the present time. The dumb Neanderthal jock persona, which makes Tatum popular during his time, is replaced by a liberal eco-friendly sexual preference sensitive “popular” kid played by David Franco. This plays right into the hands of Hill’s character which essentially makes Hill the popular kid and Tatum the out of date Alpha male.

That is where my attraction to the film ends, except for the cameo appearances by Johnny, Holly, and Peter. Tatum shows some range by doing a major comedic role. I have always thought the he had some talent outside of dancing and playing the white/black guy (you should see him in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints). Not much to say about Jonah other than I think he blows both the Franco brothers. Kidding player you were the bomb when you blew Brad Pitt in Moneyball to win an Oscar. I don’t know where this is coming from Jonah, it might be my desire to blow Brad…. I just went and saw Fury and it blew. 

Peaces and Creases

P.S. Fury is not a bad movie, it was pretty entertaining