More of the same might be a bad thing for some, but make no mistake that 22 Jump Street is one of the funniest comedy sequels ever made. It matches its predecessor in practically every way and occasionally trumps it with riotous sequences involving Jenko's (Channing Tatum) revelation about Captain Dickson's (Ice Cube) daughter and the entire first half of the closing credits.
Tatum and Jonah Hill are a mismatch made in comedy heaven. The perfect "bromantic" duo should each have what the other one lacks; thus completing each other when they come together. Tatum has physical prowess that makes Hill even funnier when he can't climb up a truck or leap from balcony to balcony. "I can't move like Spider-Man!" as Hill exclaims in one scene.
That works both ways. Hill brings a pseudo-improvisational intelligence to his role as Schmidt that makes the character appear quick-witted while Tatum's Jenko plays hilariously awkward catch-up. I recall a scene with the boys undercover investigating the "Mexican Wolverine" which some might remember from the trailers.
If I had one inhibition about 22 Jump Street, it's that over half of the film's run time is one long gay joke that runs out of steam quickly. While assuming his new identity as a college freshman, Jenko starts finding himself in a little too deep when he joins the university football squad and a fraternity with his teammates. There's a dynamic between Jenko and one or two of the guys there that's funny only for about five minutes. For a film franchise with such a colorful variety of jokes, it's disappointing to see the creative minds (screenwriters Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman) stop just a tad short of inspired comedy genius.
The majority of the film is pure gold though, and I left with a headache from laughing so hard. If you enjoyed the 21 Jump Street reboot a few years ago, you'll love this sequel.
B+
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