22jumpstreet
One Jump Ahead
 22 Jump Street
Stars: Channing Tatum, Jonah, Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Wyatt Russell, Jillian Bell, Nick Offerman, Peter Stormare and The Lucas Brothers
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Scriptwriters: Michael Bacall and Oren Uziel
Columbia
Rating: R for language and themed material. Adult Movie.
Running Length: 110 minutes
 
The most humorous part of this film shows a continuation of this series of “Jump Street” films going from 23 through 30 and into 40 and 50 with the guys going to medical school, dancing school, mariachi school, foreign students, space program, and then there is the video game and action figures. I'm sure there will be an audience all along the way. As it stands, “22 Jump Street” continues the story from “21 Jump Street” where the guys Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) go undercover as college students, probably the oldest ones there. “Blend in” is not in their vocabulary. The address changes because their undercover location has changed,  from The Aroma of Christ Church to The Resurrection of The Holy Spectacle Church. Granted, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum work together well and their “opposites-attract” approach sells their roles. However, in this film, Jonah Hill has a wicked look at times and one wonders how he would be as a total villain.
 
The story begins with the guys once again, trying to improvise to get into a drug gang (headed by Peter Stormare.) The drug dealers get away, and not without collateral damage so high the city probably has to levy more taxes. They break into a drug truck only to find exotic animals, one of which is an octopus that grabs Schmidt’s face and won't let go. To follow the drugs, their boss, Hardy (Nick Offerman) sends them to “Jump Street” to work with their former boss,  Dickson (Ice Cube). Nothing has changed with him from facial expression (forever stern) to language. The guys enroll in college and through this part of the film, Jenko gets caught up with football and a new friend, Zook (Wyatt Russell), and his fraternity. Hill meets a girl, Maya (Amber Stevens) who has a room across the hall from a person who was killed. Maya’s roommate, Mercedes (Jillian Bell) is one loud-mouth person. There are narrow escapes from following clues, and eventually the guys part company. Just as in a marriage, when things get tangled because of opinion differences, so, too, does this police partnership. They go separate ways to “investigate,” only to find the clues leading back to their original premise. In the meantime, Schmidt has the girl (policeman’s daughter, no less) and Jenko is a top football star. There is a smashing ending, plus the addition of the information in the first paragraph. This should set “Jump Street” fans up for life. In one of the many “Jump Street” future film projections, the octopus from the beginning of the film is seen as a police officer. Must have gotten an agent after this movie. They don't miss a trick.
 
As far as acting is concerned, what you see is what you get. Jonah Hill is sad, glad and mad with the same look. The camera seems to like his eyes. Channing Tatum works his biceps with dramatic flair, and has his acting moments, though few and far between with this script, but he can do comedy. Ice Cube has his moment, too, when he breaks from his stern character as he hears about his daughter’s new boyfriend. Dangerous news in a restaurant. The discovery is Wyatt Russell, son of Kurt Russell, who does a good job as a frat man and has good timing with Tatum. Russell is a former hockey player and now an actor.
 
"22 Jump Street" is an adult movie exploring drugs on campus and how wide spread a drug ring operation could be. With so much money involved, anyone could be a dealer. People aren't what you think they are, and some of the stunts are a bit off the wall. Girls wear minimum clothing and guys are forever working out in the gym. Frats have wild parties and binge drinking is present. Look for cameos by stars including Queen Latifah. Stay through all of the film credits.
 

Copyright 2014 Marie Asner
 
For another adult comedy film review, see the following:
 
A Million Ways To Die In The West