22 JUMP STREET

(A better love story than those sappy Nicholas Sparks movies)

21 Jump Street was a sleeper hit but this one is a comatose smash. Not just the movie, but Nick Offerman (Hardy) himself tells you upfront that this is a sequel and they will do the same shit as before. What you don’t know is that it will be better than the original. I won’t spoil much of my favourite scenes. I’ll just say that I never stopped laughing from the moment Ice Cube (Dickson) made a surprising entrance. Despite the goofiness, it still managed to have some cool car chases and NFL moments.

Being a self-aware sequel, it’s hard not to compare the two. There are some things that 21 did better than 22, like the phases of HFS, the Korean Jesus and the usual suspects. Peter Stormare (The Ghost) and Wyatt Russell (Zook) were never as good as Dave Franco and Rob Riggle, even in the sequel, but those comparisons are minimal to the sequel’s awesomeness.

Both used a lot of movie references. What makes 22 more effective is how it hilariously made fun of everything in a clever but inoffensive way. Here are some things that I remembered while watching this: Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Wes Anderson’s idiosyncratic enumerations, Cesar Vialpando of GTA-San Andreas, Tropic Thunder and I Love You, Man. This is how you make a fun but disgusting spring break, Harmony Korine.

Same story, same pacing and same vulgar humor but what made this still entertaining are Channing Tatum (Jenko) and Jonah Hill (Schmidt). They make the bromance work without being offensive or sappy. Many people can also relate to their friendship quarrel. Your best friends can drag you down but it’s worse if you don’t know that you’re the one who’s actually dragging them. Amber Stevens (Maya) is so hot that you can’t buy her hook-up with Schmidt. I want to see Jillian Bell (Mercedes) end up with Jonah Hill if there will ever be a 23 because they really look good together. Keith and Kenny Lucas (The Yang Twins) are my favourite side-characters. The wasted dude in the background of a fistfight is so hilarious.

22 Jump Street outdid its outrageously fun predecessor and became one of the best sequels ever made. Lord and Miller fully-utilized the inevitable clichés and used them as their advantage in making unpredictably hilarious comedy. Tatum and Hill has a fiery chemistry that outshines the funniest comedians today.

The perfect rating for Schmidt’s bacon machine. BACONTASTIC 4.5/5!

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*Spoiler ahead*

What would you like to see the most among the possible sequels in the end credits?