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Movie Review: 22 Jump Street

Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) bring on some amplified bro-ship in the blockbuster sequel to 2013’s 21 Jump Street. 

One may safely say that it was Seth Rogen and James Franco who popularised bro-ship humour in 2008’s Pineapple Express. It is a complete abandonment of masculinity in the face of adoring and admiring friendship that warrants over-the-top commitment speeches and mushy sequences that leave viewers squirming, yet with laughter.

 

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum channel exactly that and more, in the face of whacky roommates, a hectic boss and another cutthroat assignment.

 

In response to their outstanding job in uncovering a high school drug bust in 21 Jump Street, the two have been assigned to go undercover and this time, in college.

 

Ice Cube retakes his role as Captain Dickson, the bulldog-like police boss who certainly keeps them in line with his colourful choice of words and thinly veiled, highly hilarious threats. A surprise and unlikely turn of events (which I will not spoil here) adds some delightful hilarity to his scenes.

 

The two get wrapped up in an embroiling case that shares almost clockwork similarity to 21 Jump Street’s events. 

 

An increasingly popular drug garners the attention of the police after a death (this time on university campus) related to the drug in question, identified as “WHYPHY”.

 

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are the directors behind this sequel, as well as 21 Jump Street. They bring back the same, uncontained chaos brought on by Schmidt and Jenko’s mismatched physical and mental prowess and less-than-brilliant decisions.

 

An emotional battle takes centre stage when the bro-ship is challenged by a college fraternity whose interests seem to fit naturally with Jenko.

 

The directors handle the action and comedy with grace and smart style, with great attention to detail. Awesome camerawork is rife throughout and rather than bulking up on the script with deeper plot, the focus is heaped instead on Hill and Tatum’s comedic partnership and exploits.

 

An interesting and lively cast provide uncertainty over who the real perpetrator is and as the mystery deepens, the crumbling relationship between the two struggles to keep its’ momentum.

 

Gorgeous newcomer Amber Stevens gives a refreshing performance as Maya, Schmidt’s potential love interest, and Workaholics’ Jillian Bell shines in her weird, hilarious way as Maya’s roommate, Mercedes.

 

The movie is perfect for a good laugh in thrilling and explosive cinematic style, with a pumped soundtrack that even features a certain brilliant DJ's cameo. The cast keep the somewhat average script upbeat and the directors handle the whole shebang with nifty grace.

 

Definitely worth catching before it makes its’ way out of cinemas soon!

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