22 Jump Street

Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube

Released in UK: 6^th June 2014

Playing on the idea that the sequel is rarely as good as the first, the second round for cop duo Schmidt and Jenko is clearly revelling in every moment to make fun of the fact that this is a blown out full-on sequel with gags nicked from the first. They don’t let you forget it. Everything in the sets is bigger, better, flashier and much more expensive. As Ice Cube’s Captain Dickson announces during one of his rants, “I’m wearing $800 shoes, and you can’t even see them!”

21 Jump Street leapt onto TV’s in the late 80’s starring a fresh-faced Johnny Depp. A couple decades later when a big screen remake was announced, expectations were low. After all cinema has seen many a disappointing American TV reboot flop, Miami Vice and Dukes of Hazard being some of the most recent. However despite a lower budget, the film was the sleeper hit of 2012 and made over a whopping $200 Million at the box office. While it was a massive hit, it was in fact very funny and well liked by most critics and audiences alike..

So they’re back, and following on directly from their undercover drug bust success at High school, twenty-something hapless cops Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are now undercover at University trying to find the source of a new narcotic drug called WHYPHY (Work Hard Yes Play Hard Yes). Bring on the college mayhem.

It’s an easy transition – moving our heroes from high school to College, and while the jokes are laid on thick and fast, thankfully they pay off. You’re left in fits of laughter. Director’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have pulled out another hit from the bag (they’re also responsible for The Lego Movie).

All the classic college jokes are here; the drinking, the partying, the frat initiation, the intellectual classes no one understands and even the weird roommates. From the morning after walk of shame, Tatum’s riff on his role in White House Down to Hill’s hilarious performance moment mocking impromptu poetry recital the jokes just keep coming; and what’s more – they’re really funny.

The best joke by far sees Schmidt making a fatal mistake by igniting the wrath of Captain Dickson through a very personal error, and well, it shouldn’t be given away but it’s absolutely brilliant.

Is it funnier than it’s predecessor? Well it certainly matches it.

Tatum plays dumb like no one else can and does it incredibly well. He is perfect for the role of drop out Jenko, even having a ‘meet-cute/ moment finding a kindred spirit at college in the form of fellow jock Zook (Kurt Russell’s real life son Wyatt Russell). Hill meanwhile, who has experience mastering his comedic flare many a time before is brilliantly embarrassing as out of shape pudgy Schmidt. Together they are Laurel and Hardy.

While this is a comedy, it’s also a great bromance. Schmidt and Jenko are like chalk and cheese, but put together Tatum and Hill have great chemistry making them the ultimate comedy couple. They bicker, have break ups and Schmidt becomes jealous of Jenko’s newfound friendship with Zook.

As the eternally enraged, angry police captain on the case Ice Cube is deliciously over the top as Dickson.

One of the only miscasting here is Jillian Bell as a bitchy and constantly stone-faced foul-mouthed roommate with a vendetta against pretty much everyone. Her involvement in the plot turns into something strangely odd and distractingly out of place. It’s a shame, and while the ending is not that amazing and some of the special effects green screens are a little bit dodgy, it doesn’t matter and by no means scuppers any enjoyment we’ve having.

If the parody end credits are anything to go by, we will see more of Schmidt and Jenko, and we wait in excited suspense; but really, how much bigger can they go?

VERDICT: * * *

22 is delightfully stupid, with brilliant comedic performances from Hill, Tatum and especially Cube. Though it’s not one of the greatest comedies ever, the hilarious gags are turned up to the max in this impressively funny sequel.

22 Jump Street is out in UK cinemas from Friday 6^th June. 21 Jump Street is available on DVD and Blu-Ray now.