Critics Rating: 4 STARS*

Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens

Direction: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Produced: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Neal H,Mortiz

Genre: Comedy  
                              
Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are a winning twosome. The alchemists with the Midas Touch. After watching The Lego Movie, the question on everybody’s minds would have been ‘Next is what?’ 22 Jump Street may not be the desk-thumping response to the prior brilliance, but it is a loud, resounding answer when it speaks for itself.

And yes, it is better than the prequel.

All you need to know is this: 2 cops. Drug racket. College set-up. Even if you don’t, 22 Jump Street gets you up to speed with some fleeting cut scenes. Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are back to shake things up in college, because shaking down some dealers in the opening scene did not go very well. It’s a miracle Schmidt, lacking physical acumen, is still on the force.

The failed mission sends them packing to Deputy Chief Hardy’s (Nick Offerman) office for a college assignment. Literally.­ Jenko protests, wanting to become a CIA agent instead and protect the White House (we know what he is talking about).

The college to attend is MC State. The drug in question is Whyphy (pronounced ‘Wi-fi’). The mission is simple: ‘Infiltrate the dealer. Find the supply’, which is just the brevity you get from the tough-talking, straight-shooting Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) at the titular address.

College seems promising. Jenko says with notable pride, “I’m the first person in my family to pretend to go to college.” And thereon begin the college clichés of alcohol, debauchery and of course, drugs, which work in Lord and Miller’s able hands.

 

22 Jump Street can well be accused of being a cash-grabbing sequel, an allegation the makers are keenly aware of. Hence, the self-referential jokes, a genre parody and some really cool action. The use of the ‘Red Herring’ and ‘Meet Cute’ in the film is interesting, and as blatant as the symbolism of the Yin and Yang. Above all, the bromance is endearing… and in the homoerotic territory, which can be funny if you aren’t squeamish about that sort of thing.

Here again, Schmidt and Jenko get caught in the mire of drugs. If only the results were as hilarious and depicted as procedurally as in the first film.

What takes a major win are the guest appearances surfacing amidst a fantastic cast. Nick Offerman pulls off another Ron Swanson with a stone-face that makes you crack up. Two more comic actors turn up during the end titles, which is an elaborate lampooning of all sequels, posters, merchandising and the cash cow gimmicks that follow a hit franchise.

The only cause for complaint is not the film itself, but the misguided discretion of our own censors in bleeping out certain profanities. This reviewer is still clueless on why anatomical references are deleted while f-words managed to make the cut. Surely such moral posturing was needless in an A-rated film? But that ceases to be a hindrance in the long run.

Third time is said to be a charm. This is Lord and Miller’s fourth directorial venture to hit homerun. It would be a shame to miss this one. Go for it. Say something cool while you’re at it.