Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum gave us one of the funniest cop movies we could've ever asked for: Here's everything I loved about 21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street is a film that I have cherished over the years. Amid a dearth of genuine comedy flicks, this one stands out and will continue to do so for me.

Starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, this buddy cop action comedy crams several genres into one and how. An adaptation of the namesake television series from the late 1980s, the film was directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord.

Here's the official synopsis as per IMDb:

A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.

I'll be exploring why I love this film through four points.

Everything I love about 21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street revolves around two cops who are also friends, Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum). Both have different personalities, which leads to hilarious situations. They are assigned by their funny boss (played by Ice Cube) to go to Sagan High School as undercover agents and stop the spread of a drug which itself has a hilarious name.

1) The Performances

A still from 21 Jump Street | Image via Sony Pictures Entertainment YouTube

Both Hill and Tatum bring their charm to portray characters that are very different from each other. While one is popular yet dim-witted, the other one is awkward. Every scene and dialogue of theirs is quote-worthy and genuinely makes you laugh. Ice Cube, who plays Captain Dickson, is not behind and is yet another hilarious character in the film.

2) Genuine Humor

It has been generally observed that writing good comedy is tough. Makers often go overboard to make something funny, and it ends up not being funny. 21 Jump Street stands out in this regard as it is effortlessly and relentlessly funny throughout. The humor ranges from crass to high-end.

3) Great Adaptation

People tend to forget that the film is an adaptation of a television series that took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I have not seen the whole show, but I have witnessed some episodes of it. The makers successfully manage to keep the essence of the two misfits and adapt the story for modern times. Certain things have changed in the American police system since the show came out, and the film embraces that.

4) Compelling narrative

Amid all the fun and comedy, the film actually tells an emotionally compelling story of two out-of-place cops. There are moments where characters take a pause, amid the chaos, and reflect on their actions. For example, when the duo enters high school, Greg reflects on how he was afraid of school and was never good at it. This gives a nice touch to a film and makes it more than just a comedy flick.

The success and popularity of 21 Jump Street gave way to its sequel, 22 Jump Street, which was released in 2014. The sequel is equally, if not more, funny than its predecessor. The ending of the film also takes a potshot at Hollywood's sequel obsession. But a fan like me has been waiting for a third installment for close to a decade.