21 Jump Street: Recycled

Some movies span the ages; some storylines bridge the gaps between entertainment mediums, but sometimes, Hollywood just plain runs out of ideas. This, however, isn’t always a bad thing.  Some ideas are better re-imagined, with different minds thinking of different scenarios.  Well, let’s just say that lately Hollywood has been writing and mass producing some really elaborate fan fiction.

                The movie 21 Jump Street, while a re-engineering of an old concept, is a movie that really rises up to the challenge of being one of the many re-vamps that have most people convinced that imagination has moved right on out of Hollywood. That, or it’s just really hard to find a decent writer in that town. This movie however, realizes that it is a product of lack luster imagination and does all in its power to not so subtly address that fact; while somehow simultaneously sweeping it under the rug.  Let me just say that I am incredibly proud of the fact that this movie flat out states that it is a remake. At one point the character of the Captain, unabashedly states the fact that the 80’s are coming back as recycled material because people are unimaginative (why yes that was a paraphrase not a direct quote, why do you ask?) Also, there is an extremely blatant nod to the original when *spoiler alert* some of the original actors from the show appear in character, in probably the most ridiculous manner possible.

                Enough of the back story though, the real question is: Was it good?  The answer is: It was fantastic! And, a part of my being is kind of ashamed of that admission, but I’m sorry, anything that makes me laugh that hard is worth the admission of its merit. It was funny.  For both witty and stupid reasons it made me laugh.  I must say that the base humor was much more prevalent than the witticism. So, if you consider yourself a bit of a prude, maybe it’s not for you, but if you don’t mind a bit of language and lower hemisphere anatomy jokes, then it really is worth it.  And that is really what people are looking for in a movie right? I like to think so.  Just pure unadulterated laughter is all people ask.  Well, that is unless you have someone else in the theater that doesn’t laugh so much as guffaw (like me J.)

                The characters were hilarious, if a bit stereotypical. You have your basic jock and geek dichotomy in this movie.  The egg head versus the muscle head who, in an entirely unrealistic flash-back montage don’t really get along. However, when they enter the police academy, two adversaries become unlikely friends when they find out they need each other’s help (as bike cops tee hee). I’m sure you probably found this out in the trailer which, I’ll be honest showed most of the movies entire content in its brevity. Really, just tack on 5 minutes to either side of the trailer content and bam, that’s your show.  But I must say that 5 minutes is kind of worth it.  The bond between the unlikely duo of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill is entertaining.  It’s funny, dynamic, and even sentimental.  The new term of the era is “bromance” so I guess that overwrought term is actually apropos for the situation that unfolds.  It occasionally gets a Sam and Frodo vibe when one gives the other a look that just screams breakup, but it’s sweet more than creepy so I deem it okay.

                This movie also gives way to the outlet of the worlds shared view that teenagers are just weird.  Honestly, I am a teenager, and I find other teenagers creepy and weird, and just slightly menacing when viewed in public, so I appreciate the outlet for those sentiments that is created by this movie.  It contrasts Hollywood’s normal view of “the cool kids” with the supposition of “today’s cool kids.” It shows that the old ideas of athletes and kids who just don’t care aren’t the in crowd anymore.  Now eco-friendly is the cool thing for kids and recycling is guaranteed to get you way more chicks and any dumb football trophy.  Um... what?  Now the drama kids are cool, bicycles are more awesome than muscle cars, red is blue, and pigs fly.  Yet in all this insanity the science geeks are still geeks. Hmm, I guess some things just never die.  But, there is a point to all this pandemonium! (I think) Kids are confusing.  Yay! That’s the point. To me, the only reasoning for the movie to employ these highly unrealistic views of high school is to make parents feel better about the fact that they don’t understand their own children; because children don’t make sense!  Either that or we’re devolving back to the hippie movement. I really can’t decide.  Actually, this movie is geared predominately towards teenagers who know for a fact that teenager’s aren’t really the kind of crazy that this movie is trying to portray them as.  Well drat!  Fine Hollywood: make my analysis inconclusive.

                The only part that I absolutely think is stupid is the drug trip footage.  Okay, I understand that drugs are a major plot point because, hello; this is a cop movie, but the scenes with the drugs are absolutely ridiculous. These scenes use shoddy animation and an impossible amount of color mixed with still shots to tell you the symptoms; none of which seem that bad.  Way to glorify drugs in a movie geared towards the nation’s youth!  I will assent that one kid did die as a result of the drugs portrayed in this movie, but he looked so godlike and epic while doing them that some people might be willing to ignore that fact.  Seriously kids: drugs are bad. In the movie the drugs consisted of random lab chemicals and Doritos. If that sounds even remotely appealing, you can just get off this blog right now, because; seriously… eww.

                So, I recommend you go see it. It’s stupid and crass, and unfortunately, I like those kinds of movies.  Besides, it’s got Channing Tatum in it, and explosives! Do you really need more incentive than that?