A Review of 21 Jump Street Essay

I’m not usually a fan of movie remakes, so when I heard 21 Jump Street was being made into a movie, I wasn’t exactly pleased with the news. After all, as a kid in the 80s and a teenager in the 90s, I have idolized Johnny Depp for as long as I could remember, and I didn’t think there was anyone or anything that could make this movie as good as Officer Tom Hanson made the series in the late 80s and early 90s. However, I gave in and saw the movie, it starred Channing Tatum, so it was a win/win no matter what, and I was actually pleased with how the movie turned out.

Review of 21 Jump Street

Keeping with the theme of the series, two newbie police officers, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum), are undercover police officers who specialize in youth crime. The partners, who used to be rivals in high school, are sent to a local high school to uncover an illicit drug ring. Led by their fearless, and angry, police captain, Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), Schmidt and Jenko work diligently to infiltrate the dealers/find the suppliers. However, Schmidt and Jenko’s old rivalry and differences on how to handle their undercover operation strain their relationship and compromise their positions as undercover officers.

My Opinion of the Movie

I’ll admit I liked the movie. The pairing of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as partners was a very smart move by directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The physical differences alone are enough to make me giggle. Ice Cube as the captain of this undercover unit is also a great casting decision, and even though this film is a remake, which I usually despise, I have repeatedly watched this film many times because it makes me laugh. One of my favorite parts of the film includes a cameo by Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise, the two main characters from the 1980s TV series, 21 Jump Street.

A Sequel is Coming

You may not have heard yet, but there is a sequel to 21 Jump Street coming, 22 Jump Street. The film is scheduled to be released June 2014 and will also be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. As one would probably guess, this new film will star Schmidt and Jenko heading deep undercover…to college. Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, and Ice Cube are confirmed to be in the new film, and several other stars including Dax Flame, Johnny Pemberton, and Amber Stevens are rumored to be included in this summer sequel.

If the sequel sounds like something you are interested in, make sure to see the original today. In fact, you don’t even need to be a fan of the TV series 21 Jump Street to appreciate the movie.