In February, Reel Reviews held an Oscar contest on Facebook.
Sandra Behan was the person with the most correct predictions of this year’s winners. Her “prize” was to accompany us to the movies and help us write the following review.
We had a great time with Sandra, and we look forward to reading what she has to say about 21 Jump Street.
21 Jump Street was a television series about young looking cops that go undercover in high schools and colleges to solve youth related crimes. It ran from 1987 to 1991 and starred Peter DeLuise and Johnny Depp, among others.
This new film shares a name and concept with the original series, but trades drama for comedy and aptitude for ineptitude. Bumbling, idiotic (insert occupation here) movies are nothing new. Does this film succeed? Is it funny?
We say, see it, it’s exactly 11 times funnier than the Hangover 2.
BEHAN: This film was much funnier than I anticipated. I loved Jonah Hill. The bromance theme with Channing Tatum was enjoyable. I could see it relating to my husband, his friends, other guys.
TAYLOR: I found both these characters quite likable. I went into this one expecting a high level of juvenile raunch, and I got it. Yet I still laughed out loud 10 or 12 times. My wife laughed a lot, too. I don’t think this is necessarily a guy’s movie.
HOWE: Yes. Immature, stupid and unsophisticated, but I enjoyed it. Wow, what does that say about me?
TAYLOR: The film felt like it was made for adults. As if it was written for people who were kids in the ‘80s and ‘90s. So, maybe the age range of fans of the TV series. Teens will like it too, but there were definite jokes for folks with longer memories.
BEHAN: I liked the ‘90s throwbacks, gangsta rap, Slim Shady, etc. I enjoyed the contrast between kids being much more thoughtful about world issues, tolerance, environmentalism and technology. For instance: texting during a chase.
HOWE: Even though Channing and Hill are the main characters, I thought Mr. Walters (Rob Riggle) stole every scene he was in. Why does it seem every high school has a PE teacher like him?
BEHAN: I liked how the film handled the awkward attraction between the cops, the teachers and the students. It makes fun of its own stereotypes. This film goes over the top, way over the top, but I laughed out loud several times.
TAYLOR: The film was also a little bit punchy, edgy. I also enjoyed that it had some pretty cool action sequences. However, 21 Jump Street doesn’t take itself seriously and neither should we.
HOWE gives 21 Jump Street three ice cream cones out of five.
TAYLOR gives it three *#$&’s out of five.
BEHAN gives it four giggles out of five.
21 Jump Street is currently playing at the Pen Mar Cinema Centre in Penticton.
Brian Taylor and Peter Howe are movie reviewers that live in the South Okanagan.