They miraculously (or by sheer coincidence) turn disaster into victory and harmony into chaos. 21 Jump Street is a wonderful fish-out-of-water story in which vibrant and charming characters take advantage of turning back the clock to revisit their past, add fuel to their dreary present, and drastically alter their non-existent future. It's something anyone can relate to, the universal dream of going back to school and reversing roles: for Tatum, who was a popular jock, it's time to become an invisible ally, and for Hill, who was a mousy nobody, it's time to step into the spotlight.
With 21 Jump Street, this comical journey to redemption is not merely a hilarious riot, but also a moving coming-of-age story that poignantly explores the boundaries of friendship and tests the endurance of being buddies who can really trust each other (as well as some trying circumstances) without ever having to question or doubt the outcome.
Tatum is in his element as the jock who needs to eat humble pie, and Hill is in top form as the nobody who gets an opportunity to taste the glory of fame.
Like Laurel and Hardy, this contemporary comic duo is a match made in heaven as they become an unstoppable force to be reckoned with, turning the ordinary into extraordinary adventures, which results in total fun for anyone in need of a comical injection to relieve stress and have a blast without having to work too hard.
If you are looking for a clean-cut comedy with bite, in which anything is possible and almost everything happens, 21 Jump Street will definitely kick-start your day, proving that you don't have to be rude to be funny.
Rating 3/5
The idea for breathing new life into 21 Jump Street as a feature film began with Stephen J Cannell, who had co-created the popular television series with Patrick Hasburgh back in the day. One of the most venerable, talented, and prolific television writer-producers, Cannell's many credits - from The A Team to The Rockford Files to The Greatest American Hero to Wiseguy, among many others - earned him a legion of fans and admirers, especially among his colleagues in entertainment. One such admirer is producer Neal H Moritz, who has earned his own reputation as a go-to producer of action films.
"He was incredibly charismatic - I loved everything about him," said Moritz of Cannell, who died in 2010 at the age of 69. Moritz recalled their initial meeting: "We started talking about '21 Jump Street' and I told him how much I had loved that show. He mentioned that he was working on turning it into a movie, that he was a fan of my movies, and he asked me if I would like to get involved with the project. Are you kidding?"
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