21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street is a 2012 American action comedy film loosely based on the TV series of the same name by Stephen J. Cannell. The film stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. It was written by Hill and Michael Bacall and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Plot

Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) are former classmates who meet again at police academy. Schmidt was a smart misfit while Jenko was a dim-witted jock. They end up becoming friends at the academy as they help with each others' weaknesses. They graduate together as partners, but are assigned to park patrol. They catch a break when they spot a group of drug dealers and arrest their leader Domingo (DeRay Davis). However, the department is forced to release him as Jenko forgot to read the Miranda rights. The two are reassigned to a revived specialty division on 21 Jump Street.

They are introduced to Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), who explains the division specializes in infiltrating high schools and that they were chosen because of their youthful appearances. Schmidt and Jenko are assigned to go back to their old high school to stop a new synthetic drug from spreading to other campuses by finding the supplier. They go undercover as brothers, living at Schmidt's parents' house, and see that their high school has changed. Jenko accidentally switches their identities and they get each others' classes. They learn the lead dealer of the drug is the popular Eric (Dave Franco), but he is not the supplier.

Schmidt manages to fit in with the popular kids and takes a romantic interest in Eric's friend Molly (Brie Larson), while Jenko becomes friends with the misfits in his AP Chemistry class while his teacher Ms. Griggs (Ellie Kemper) takes a sexual interest in him. Jenko discovers that his new friends secretly tap into other people's cell phones to listen into their conversations. Schmidt decides to throw a party at his house to gain Eric's complete trust and Jenko takes the opportunity to tap into Eric's phone. Despite Captain Dickson ordering them not to serve alcohol and drugs to minors, they nevertheless buy alcohol and steal confiscated marijuana. When Eric arrives with Molly and his other friends, Jenko steals Eric's phone for his friends to tap into while Schmidt fights off a rival of Eric's and earns Eric's trust.

Schmidt now pretends to sell the drug for Eric but is actually giving it to Captain Dickson to be confiscated. While at Eric's house, Schmidt asks Molly out to prom while Jenko listens through Eric's phone. He also insults Jenko to Eric with Jenko listening. Schmidt and Jenko learn that Eric is making a deal soon. When Jenko spots Eric leaving school, he takes Schmidt to follow him. They see that Eric is dealing with Domingo and his gang and they follow them, but are forced to run away when Domingo spots them. Back at school, Jenko accuses Schmidt of his earlier insults, possibly ruining the case, and getting in too deep, but Schmidt brushes him off. Jenko and Schmidt get into a fight that results in them getting expelled and fired from Jump Street.

Later that night, both are confronted by Eric and his friends, who want to bring them on as security after hearing about what happened with Domingo. He tells them about a deal with Domingo happening during prom where they get to meet the supplier. At prom, they are surprised to see that the supplier is their gym teacher Mr. Walters (Rob Riggle). When Domingo and his gang arrive, he recognizes Schmidt and Jenko as police officers, and tells two of his men to kill them. However, the two men reveal themselves as DEA Agents Tom Hanson (Johnny Depp) and Doug Penhall (Peter DeLuise), who were a part of the Jump Street program when it began. However, they get into an argument which gives Domingo the opportunity to kill them. A gunfight ensues between Schmidt and Jenko, Mr. Walters, and Domingo and his crew. Mr. Walters and Eric escape in a limo with Molly as a hostage, with Domingo and his crew in pursuit of them in another limo. Schmidt and Jenko pursue all of them in another limo where Jenko creates a homemade chemical bomb from his knowledge in AP Chemistry to kill Domingo and his crew. They then confront Mr. Walters, who shoots Jenko, and Schmidt ends up shooting him. They successfully arrest him and Eric and make amends with each other, while Schmidt makes amends with Molly. They are rehired into Jump Street where Dickson gives them a new assignment in a college setting.

Cast

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum promoting the movie in their costumes at WonderCon 2012 in Anaheim, CA.

Jonah Hill as Morton Schmidt

Channing Tatum as Greg Jenko

Brie Larson as Molly

Ice Cube as Capt. Dickson

Ellie Kemper as Ms. Griggs

Dave Franco as Eric

Rob Riggle as Mr. Walters

Johnny Depp as Tom Hanson (cameo)

Peter DeLuise as Doug Penhall (cameo)

Holly Robinson Peete as Judy Hoffs (cameo)

Nick Offerman as Capt. Hardy

Dakota Johnson as Fugazy

Rye Rye as Jr. Jr.

Johnny Simmons as Billiam Willingham

Dax Flame as Zack

DeRay Davis as Domingo

Jake Johnson as Principal Dadier

 Production

In May 2008, Columbia Pictures confirmed that a film version of the series was under development. Jonah Hill rewrote an existing script by screenwriter Joe Gazzam and executive produced the film, as well as starred in the film. Johnny Depp confirmed in an interview for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides that his cameo had already been filmed. Hill has said he wanted horror director Rob Zombie to direct the picture. In May 2009, Hill described the film adaptation as being a "R-rated, insane, Bad Boys-meets-John Hughes-type movie".  On December 21, 2009, it was announced that Columbia Pictures were in talks with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs directing duo, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, to direct the film. Channing Tatum starred alongside Hill in the film adaptation. Dave Franco also won a role in the film, and so has Dakota Johnson.

 Release

The premiere of 21 Jump Street took place on March 13, 2012, at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. The film opened in a wide release in theaters on March 16, 2012.

Critical reception

Early reviews of the film had been strongly positive. Based on 145 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds an 87% approval rating from critics, with an average score of 7.2/10. The consensus states: "A smart, affectionate satire of '80s nostalgia and teen movie tropes, 21 Jump Street offers rowdy mainstream comedy with a surprisingly satisfying bite."

Box Office

On its opening day/night ( Friday March 16 2012), the film topped the box office. It grossed $13 million.

Sequel

On March 17, 2012, Sony Pictures announced that it was pursuing a sequel to the film, signing a deal that would see Hill and Bacall return to write a script treatment that would be again developed by Bacall. Hill and Tatum are expected to return to star in, and executive produce the film, alongside producer Neal H. Moritz.

Source : Youtube and Wikipedia

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