Don’t get me wrong, I love a good dick joke now and then, but in this unneeded remake of an 80s TV show, it’s overdone. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller co-direct 21 Jump Street, starring Channing Tatum (The Vow) and Jonah Hill (Moneyball) as a couple of buddy cops transferred into a undercover program in a high school.
Besides being completely predictable, all the punchlines were ruined because they were already used in the trailers for the film. They might have actually been funny if I hadn’t seen them so many times on TV. These are the kind of jokes that need the element of surprise to work and become unfunny in a second viewing. Also, what’s with all the dick jokes? Were the writers that strapped for comedy? Step Brothers, with a totally ridiculous plot, makes up for it with witty dialogue and the great performances by John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell. I like humor you can relate to and laugh about over and over, not just stuff that’s mildly humorous the first time around, then loses its effect.
In an attempt to establish the characters of Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) in their first turn in high school, they have Schmidt as a supposed nerd, and Jenko as a jock. By the end of the film it’s clear that they are trying to play against stereotypes, but still, why is a nerd dressed like Eminem and a jock, long stringy hair? Plus, the establishing flashback were way too short to give any indication of the characters and was just an excuse to give each a different look.
The story does have some fun twists and yes, I did laugh randomly, but I felt almost forced to do so. I thought it was silly that the two, who are complete opposites, become friends simply because they need 
to get ahead. Also, why did they go into the police academy? It’s not as though that’s a logical choice for EITHER of them. Again, story can be forgiven when humor outweighs it.
Sprinkled throughout are some funny performances by Chris Parnell (NBC’s 30 Rock) and Rob Riggle (The Daily Show) and a new kind of cool guy, Dave Franco (Fright Night). Brie Larson (Showtime’s The United States of Tara) was kinda flat as Schmidt’s love interest. Wait, did I just say that? Yes, they had the undercover policeman hitting on a teenager in high school. Granted, she was probably 18, but that was never established. Fact is, HE’S 25 YEARS OLD AND A COP. Seriously. And just so you know, I didn’t approve of Mr Coulson hitting on Josie in Never Been Kissed either and they were technically legal!
Rating: It’s a throwaway comedy that will be good for a laugh here and there when you’re watching it on cable, half-paying attention. 5/10
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