In spite of the fact that they advanced through secondary school successfully, an investigation at a nearby school brings huge changes for undercover officers Jenko and Schmidt.
This sequel to the hit action comedy 21 Jump Street is better all around: the pacing is more consistent, the sight gags more imaginative, the self-referential jokes sharper.
Yes, the movie feels every bit the hot mess it pretends to be, but it's also as shrewd and careful a live-action sequel as you're likely to see this year.
Self-referential irony is hardly a new gimmick, having served as the underlying premise for such franchises as Scream and Austin Powers, but rarely has it been indulged with such fervor.
The mere fact that the filmmakers are aware that they're playing the role of a wholly unoriginal cog in the corporate machine does not really excuse their unoriginality.
22 Jump Street is pretty much the exact same movie as 21 Jump Street. It knows it, you know it, and it knows that you know it. And that is why it's brilliant.
The movie is neither here nor there plot-wise and needs some better female characters-ladycops, anyone?-but coasts merrily along on Tatum and Hill's tremendous chemistry and charm. Pointless? Yes. Fun? The most.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, have clearly seen their share of crappy unnecessary sequels, and want to assure us that 22 Jump Street will follow proudly in that tradition.
