by Scott Peterson

How often do you prejudge a movie based on it's trailer?  I admit I have a nasty habit of always basing my movie going desire upon a 2 minute and 34 second clip.  Well it seems I'm going to have to turn over a new leaf.  I had ZERO interest in seeing a movie based upon an 80's television series I didn't particularly enjoy.  Five minutes in to 21 Jump Street, I knew I was way off. I don't recall laughing as hard in a movie since the first Hangover film.    

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star as Schmidt and Jenko, two inept police officers that are ordered to use their young looks to pose as high school students in order to infiltrate a violent drug ring. Times have changed since Schmidt and Jenko had last been in High School.  Now everyone texts.  Who actually calls a girl at home anymore?  Nowadays it's actually quite popular to be a nerd and being a dumb jock isn't so impressive.  The hilarity ensues when the once popular Jenko and the embarrassing nerd Schmidt switch roles.    

Hill and Tatum are fabulous. They work extremely well off one another.   We haven't seen a funnier tandem since Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour.   21 Jump Street is vulgar, over the top, vile nonsense that had my cheeks numb from laughter.  Now why didn't they show that in the movie trailer?

Final Word - 3 1/2 stars