12 Movies Challenge: '21 Jump Street'

by Julian Spivey
Last year I embarked on a movie challenge in hopes of seeing some films I’ve never seen and more importantly opening myself up to some kinds of films I likely would never see. The premise is that you have 12 months to watch 12 movies recommended by 12 friends. I don’t often participate in such social media challenges but being a movie buff, I felt this might be an interesting way to get out of my comfort zone a bit when it comes to watching movies.

Like in 2023, I have some movies on the list that I’ve always meant to get around to watching but haven’t – most notably the 1962 classic “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which I think I saw the first half of in school but was absent on the day it finished. And there’s some stuff I probably never would’ve gotten around to like Andrzej Wajda’s 1958 Polish film “Ashes and Diamonds.”

As I did last year I will write about my thoughts and feelings on each of these films after I have viewed them.
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Here are the 12 movies recommended to me and the months I’ve assigned myself to watch them:
 
January: “The Wonder” (2022)
February: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
March: “Dreamgirls” (2006)
April: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004)
May: “21 Jump Street” (2012)
June: “Mamma Mia” (2008)
July: “City of Angels” (1998)
August: “Fried Green Tomatoes” (1991)
September: “Ashes and Diamonds” (1958)
October: “Clue” (1985)
November: “The Intouchables” (2011)
December: “The Agony and the Ecstasy” (1965) 

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Photo: Columbia/TriStar Pictures

My May movie recommendation is one that some people might be a little surprised that I’ve never seen before, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s 2012 buddy cop action/comedy “21 Jump Street.”

My friend Brittany actually recommended the sequel “22 Jump Street” to me but nicely allowed me to switch to the first film so I wouldn’t have to watch them out of order – something I did with last month’s film from the ‘Harry Potter’ series.

I’ve never really been one for crude comedies – though I do love the Greg Mottola, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg collaboration that was 2007’s “Superbad” – so I just never felt the need to rush out and see “21 Jump Street,” especially having never seen its inspiration – the Fox drama series of the same name that aired from 1987-1991 and gave Johnny Depp his big break.

“21 Jump Street” stars Jonah Hill, also in “Superbad,” and Channing Tatum as rookie cops who had gone to the same high school and were the exact opposite of each other. Tatum was the cool jock. Hill the nerd.

When the two, who became buddies at the police academy when they realize they each have a strength that can help the other become a cop, get into some trouble after their first arrest goes wrong they’re transferred to the 21 Jump Street unit, headed up by a hilarious Ice Cube, in which they’re to use their young faces to infiltrate a local high school’s drug ring, led by Dave Franco who seemingly plays the same character in every role he’s in (I wonder how that’s working out for him at 38?).

I enjoyed the cameos from some of the “21 Jump Street” cameos, which I won’t spoil if you’re like me and have let a dozen years go by without seeing this.

One of my favorite scenes was Nick Offerman’s lone one. I wish he had stuck around for more but I guess after the leads get transferred there’s not much use for him. Also, this is a criminal under-usage of Jake Johnson. I felt like his principal character could’ve had a more important role. I found Rob Riggle funny in this which is somewhat of a surprise for me as one who’s often annoyed by him.  

My worry going in was that “21 Jump Street” would be too stupid for me.

It wasn’t.

It’s obviously not going to be a smartly written satire but it kept me entertained and laughing mostly throughout.

If you want to be entertained for an hour and 49 minutes there are certainly worse ways to spend your time.

That being said, “21 Jump Street” isn’t something I’ve ever really going to need to see again. It’s one of those solid, I don’t regret watching it but I don’t feel like it’s anything more than popcorn entertainment. I’m sure I’ll get around to watching “22 Jump Street” as initially recommended but I also don’t feel the need to jump right back into this world anytime soon.