21 JUMP STREET

US, 2012, 109 minutes, Colour.
Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, Ice Cube, Caroline Aaron, Holly Robinson Peete.
Cameos by Johnny Depp, Peter De Luise, Richard Grieco.
Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

Basically, for a younger demographic.

This is the popular television series (with Johnny Depp who does an entertaining cameo this time) from the later 1980s. Almost a quarter of century later, Jonah Hill and fellow writers, have taken the core plot and more than updated it. Yes, there are the two cops (ineffectual rookies, Channing Tatum, the heartthrob from school now struggling with studies and even remembering his Miranda warnings properly, and Jonah Hill the ultra-gawky nerd with brains but finding the police training a physical challenge, are no on the first assignment, patrolling a quiet park on bicycles.

When their attempted arrest of some bikies flops, they are assigned to a special squad housed in the Church of the Aroma of Christ, a former Korean church with a Korean Jesus crucifix. It is presided over by a continually angry and swearing Ice Cube. Talking of swearing, there is much more here than on the TV series and a preoccupation with raucous comedy and frequent phallic jokes. The rookies are assigned to undercover work to find dealers and makers of a new drug (which they first watch on a You Tube clip).

Yes, they are too old for school, but, after getting their fake names mixed up, they go to the wrong courses, Jonah to sport as well as a performance of Peter Pan, Channing to science. The comedy is that each adapts to his opposite. And it is all mixed up with the pleasant dealer who gets them in on the act, with a girl who finds Jonah attractive, the fellow nerds with whom Channing feels more and more at home, with a leering sports coach, and with the bikies – which leads to shoot-outs and traffic jammed chases and explosions.

Younger audiences will find it funny, and the two do play well off each other. Older audiences may find it a bit too much to spend so much time in this school and might feel that a little of our heroes goes a fairly long way.

1. 21 Jump Street for a 21st century audience? Those nostalgic about the television series? Younger audiences?

2. The use of the basic plot, transition from the 1980s to the 21st century? Style, issues? The humorous cameos by Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise? The return of Holly Robinson Peete?

3. The 21st century, schools, homes, neighbourhoods, parties, drugs, dealers, makers? Bikie gangs? The school proms? Action and shootouts?

4. The verbal humour, the slapstick humour, the sexual and raucous humour, phallic jokes?

5. Schmidt and Jenko when young, Channing Tatum as the idol, laughing at Schmidt, Schmidt and his invitation to the prom, awkward? Studies?

6. The transition to the police academy, Schmidt and his difficulty with exercise, Jenko and his not being adept at studies? Meeting each other again, burying the hatchet, helping each other? Bonding?

7. Their first job, at the park, on bikes? The bikie gangs, the drugs, the attempted arrest, the fight, the injuries?

8. With the officer, not reading the rights properly, the case dismissed? The chief, relegating the two to Jump Street?

9. The church, the Aroma of Christ, the Korean. Jesus, the focus on the crucifix? Captain Dickson, his tone, his being angry, language, the other undercover agents, the girls, the various jobs to be done, looking for drugs and dealers?

10. The drug, the YouTube? clip, the dramatising of the phases of the drug, the boy – and his death? Aggression, madness, catatonic?

11. Jenko and Schmidt going undercover, the audience and the teachers and students having to accept them as younger, as students? Enrolled, mixing up their names, getting the wrong courses? Schmidt’s mother and father, the gossiping neighbour? The rooms and boarding at the Schmidt house? Going to school?

12. The encounters, Molly, Eric and his friends, the gay black man and the fight? The principal, the warnings, the difficulties if suspended?

13. Jenko and his going to the science laboratory, the geeks, the teacher and her continually making advances, the friendship, the songs and the poems, Jenko bonding with them, sharing, his own poem, learning about science?

14. The contrast with Schmidt, the coach and his oddball comments, running, messing things up, continued exercise? Becoming friends with Eric, his group? The bonding?

15. The character of the coach, his coming on strongly, his language not being appropriate, his comments – and calling out during the performance of Peter Pan? The irony that he was at the centre of the drugs?

16. Eric, his character, his friends, as a dealer, his contacts? Becoming his friend, leaving the phone on – and the irony of Jenko listening in?

17. The plan, the audition by Schmidt for the play, costume? His continued meetings with Molly, the attraction, sharing with her, the phone and his insulting Jenko?

18. The prom, after their suspension, Molly, the pursuit of the criminals?

19. The code, the drop, going out of the play, the setup, Eric inviting the two of them to participate? Their being invited because they didn't seem to be cops? The bikies, initially not recognising them? Molly, her coming in, the revelation? The coach emerging as the criminal?

20. The shootout in the hotel, action and slapstick?

21. The car chase, the tankers, the hens, the expected explosions, the final fire?

22. Getting back to the play, Molly and her being upset, the fight with Jenko on stage, the reaction of the audience – including the coach?

23. The happy ending, the achievement, going back to Captain Dickson? His having to admit their success?