Iffy for 16+
TV-based buddy comedy is crude but hilarious.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 21 Jump Street is an often crude (but irreverently funny) action/buddy comedy based on the popular '80s TV series that launched Johnny Depp's career. This version stars popular actors Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as bumbling cops who attempt to redeem themselves by going undercover to bust a high school drug ring. The storyline leads to plenty of drug content (there's also pot smoking and some underage drinking), and you can also expect lots of strong language (including "f--k," "s--t," and more), crude references, and sexual innuendoes.
- Families can talk about how 21 Jump Street portrays high school. Is it realistic? Is it meant to be? Teens: How does this school compare to yours?
- Parents, talk to your kids about social struggles and drug use in high school. Does this film depict either/both accurately? What are the consequences of substance use/abuse in real life?
- How does the movie compare to the original 21 Jump Street TV show? If you were a fan of the series, is the movie what you expected?
The good stuff
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Messages: 21 Jump Street's main message is that friendship trumps high school stereotypes and popularity contests -- as long as you keep an eye on what's important (relationships) and what's not (your position in an imposed hierarchy).
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Role models: The two lead characters are sometimes inept and inane and not always supportive of each other, but in the end they realize the error of their ways.
What to watch for
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Violence: Lots of it, but generally played cartoonishly (and lots of slow-motion scenes). A character rejoices when his friend shoots someone (it's a gross-out moment); guns are drawn and pointed at someone's head. Though most of the fight scenes are cartoonish in nature, blood is shed. And cops rejoice after arresting and shooting people.
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Sex: Three people are shown in a state of undress while in the middle of a sex act (though there's no graphic nudity); in an end-credits scenes, two couples are seen together. Also lots of crude language and sex talk, including discussion of teens hooking up and/or wanting to. Some kissing and sexual gestures; genitalia are drawn on family photographs and also can be glimpsed briefly in a non-sexual context.
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Language: Very frequent use of strong language, including "f--k," "s--t," "ass," "bitch," "p---y," "prick," "d--k," "damn," "hell," "goddamn," and "oh my God" (as an exclamation).
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Consumerism: It's a teen movie, so the products that teens use -- laptops, phones, etc. -- are on display. But there's not a lot of label-dropping.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The plot centers around the arrest of a drug ring that deals in a high school; they've created a synthetic drug whose effects have been chronicled on a website. The video has gone viral, and the 21 Jump Street agents have to stop the drug from spreading, too. There's also pot-smoking and some underage drinking at parties.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
HILARIOUS! by silharder
I didn't know what to think when I heard there would be a 21 Jump Street movie...but I'm glad they went there. It would have been a tall order to bring such an iconic show from the 80's to the big screen in 2012 without it looking completely cheesy...so they did it with humora dn without taking themselves too seriously. It makes reference to the original and ****SPOLIER ALERT**** there are some great cameos in the movie. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are perfect together! I could not stop laughing the entire time. Go see this movie!!!
5
Andam Sandler Slapstick meets "The Hangover" by taterbell88
So funny...laughed the whole way through~ Some parts will have u rolling!! Stupid funny! Was suprised Tanning was able to to pull off "funny" so well!
5
5 out of 5 by erikoak55
it is incredibly funny. One of the funniest ive seen in my life. its basically hangover funny type level. Make sure you go to the bathroom beofre u watch the movie cuz you ll probably went ur pants and will miss a scene which you cant afford to.
4
Hilarious!!! by havokndc
I was skeptical about this movie, I debated between this and Project X. I was pleasantly surprised. I"m not a big Channing Tatum fan but he is DEFINITELY a good comedic actor. This movie was hliarious. The chemistry between Jonah and Channing was great, and i LOVED the cameos by the old cast of 21 JS. Ice Cube was brilliant!! Definitely recommend it if you like dummy comedies, (ie Superbad, Project X, etc)
5
Lived up to the hype by johnsonj0712
Hill and Tatum were freakin hilarious!!! The one liners had my wife and I rolling through the whole movie. Jonah finally gets the nerve to shoot his gun and you will not be able to stop laughing. The ONLY akward parts of the movie were when you heard a couple little kids, well under 13, laughing. Nice job to those parents.
5
21 Jump Street by sheranth
When I found out we were going to see 21 Jump Street last night, all I could think was "Great, another boring movie" as I only knew the name Channing Tatum from dance drama movies, boy was I wrong!!!'
With Jonah Hill as his partner and Ice Cube as their Superior, their chemistry kept me and the whole theater laughing the whole time and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD.
5
Tears by remington.1100
This movie brought tears to my eyes from laughing so hard I loved it. I loved their friendship and I loved the car chases. I was unexpectidly impressed
5
cathy by villanueva_cat
21 Jumpstreet was so funny. I loved it! Hadnt laughed like that in along time. The ending was killer!! Cant wait to see more movies with Johan & Channting together. Good partnership.
5
21 Jump Street by zorayasuarez
It was hysterical! I really wasn't it expecting it to be that great. Jonah and Channing are awesome. Nothing like the original 80's series, but equally as good. I haven't laughed that much in years!
5
Fantastic! by MoeStuart
This is such a funny movie! Everything about it is perfect. You care for the characters and are laughing with them throughout the while thing! I loved it! Everyone needs to see it!