From the outset, 21 Jump Street seemed like an odd proposition. A film based on an ‘80s TV show, given an action comedy overhaul by Jonah Hill and Scott Pilgrim co-writer Michael Bacall? Which stars Hill and Channing Tatum (who thus far has had few opportunities to really show comic chops) as mismatched buddy cops going undercover at a local high school? But with the arrival of the film’s first trailer, a long, Red Band affair full of swearing, it actually looks like it could be one of the more fun films to arrive in 2012. Take a look at the promo below.
While we’re slightly concerned at how long this thing is (it clocks in at more than three minutes), it’s definitely got the comedy goods.
As directed by Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Hill and Channing make an appealing pair as Schmidt and Jenko, a duo who were the archetypal jock and nerd in high school, but who bond while in the police academy mostly because Schmidt has the brains to pass tests and Jenko is the action man.
But when their first police duties are nothing like the high-speed excitement they expected, they volunteer to help smash a drugs ring.
The supporting cast is beyond solid, with the likes of Ellie Kemper, Dave Franco, Ice Cube and Rob Riggle showing up. And from the looks of this, Nick Offerman brought the full Ron Effing Swanson to bear on his role as the big chief. Just his delivery on the phrase “you idiots” has us giggling.
Hopefully this doesn’t show off all the good bits and there are much more to be seen when 21 Jump Street shows up for cine-duty on March 16.