When 21 Jump Street came out, everyone was shocked that Channing Tatum could do something else other than action and dance. The remake of the popular 1980s teen comedy about cops who work undercover in high schools created the most unlikely of partnerships: nebbish actor Jonah Hill and buff action star Channing Tatum. While Hill had established a significant amount of comedy cred by this point, starring in films like Accepted, Superbad and Get Him to the Greek, Tatum was a relative newcomer. That's what makes their chemistry in this film so surprising. They don't stray too far from their established character types (Tatum as the dumb jock and Hill as an awkward nerd), but there's a sweetness and camaraderie that develops between the two cops. Sure, they don't really have too much in common, but they both have endearing qualities that make them quickly become rather fond of each other. While 22 Jump Street wasn't quite as funny as the first film, it has nothing to do with the performances from the two leads, who maintain as strong a comedy team as it is unlikely.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
