22 Jump Street (2014)

Hollywood demands sequels. But this is one that literally bites from the hand that feeds, making fun of the fact that it treads the same ground with minor changes and inversions. It’s also just as funny as the last one, taking the ridiculous notion of bringing 21 Jump Street into modern times and succeeding in spite of such a dumb concept.

Two years later, (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are back on the streets and after drug dealers led by Ghost (Peter Stormare). After failing spectacularly, they’re dropped back into Captain Dickson’s (Ice Cube) program, which has moved across the street to 22 Jump Street.

Now, Jenko is the popular one becoming friends with the jocks like Zook (Wyatt Russell, son of Kurt and Goldie Hawn) and Rooster (YouTube actor Jimmy Tatro). Schmidt hooks up with Maya, who ends up being Ice Cube’s daughter and hijinks, of course, ensue.

The supporting cast makes this one, from Nick Offerman, Rob Riggle and Dave Franco returning from the last film to appearances by Queen Latifah, Jillian Bell, Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Seth Rogan, H. Jon Benjamin and Patton Oswalt. There are also appearances by nearly every actor from the 21 Jump Street series that didn’t make it into the last film.

Finally, the end credits spoil tons of sequels that are coming to this movie. Sadly, one of the real sequel ideas — MIB23, which would combine 21 Jump Street and the Men in Black series into one movie — has never come to pass.

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