22 JUMP STREET (B+)

Bottom Line: Slightly suffering, like its hilarious predecessor, from a zanily overstuffed third act – 22 JUMP STREET remains another film in a very short line of films (see: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 among others) that toes the line of outshining its introductory predecessor.  Mocking its inflated production budget, over-the-top antics and lack of imagination throughout – it understands that we understand that the whole concept is ridiculous.  It also gets that your butt is in the seat because you want to be entertained.  It’s a painfully simple formula that effortlessly serves up the goods: it’s bigger, it’s louder, it’s funnier!  Hill and Tatum – both giving it their all – are, once again, having an infectious blast.  It’s a hilariously high-octane, bromantically ballistic flick that – now that I really think about it – is better than the original.  The finale might be all over the map again, but the chaos is slightly more controlled and they keep the laughs coming a mile-a-minute instead of resting on an uninspired car chase sequence – I mean, there is a car chase sequence at the end here…but this time they also have a helicopter.  See, like I said – bigger.  Ambitiously goofy, self referentially sidesplitting and foolishly fun – it may not be groundbreaking cinema – but it’s sure to bust a gut.  Make the jump to a theater near you today!

 

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube

Directed by: Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 JUMP STREEET, THE LEGO MOVIE and CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS)

Running time: 110 minutes

Studio description: After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don't have to just crack the case - they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them. (c) Sony

 

Official site: www.22jumpstreetmovie.com