In the upcoming big screen version of “21 Jump Street,” Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill sub for TV stars Johnny Depp and Richard Grieco as twenty-something cops who go undercover as high schoolers in order to bust a drug ring (as seen in the featurette above).
The following clips give you a good idea of the buzzed-about film’s zany humor. So far, all the promotional material has been pretty dang funny, and early word-of-mouth has seemingly been nothing but positive. It could end up being one of the bigger surprises at the multiplex this year, which will help recent Oscar nominee Hill (“Moneyball”) and the in-demand Tatum (currently breaking hearts with “The Vow”) continue their rise as stars.
Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) make their awkward first bust in this clip, which also shows off a bit of the film’s silly action.
The title for the next clip — “When did I get stabbed?” — speaks for itself. Watch Tatum break out some “Haywire”-style fighting skills at a drunken high school party, while Hill takes one in the shoulder — and loves every minute of it. Don’t try this at home.
Ice Cube, who in a previous life didn’t much care for cops, plays the veteran police captain in charge of the 21 Jump Street program. The film also stars Brie Larson, Ellie Kemper, Dave Franco and, in a cameo role, Johnny Depp himself.
Check out two more hilarious clips here.
The film, co-written by HIll and Michael Bacall, opens March 16.