A fast, self-aware buddy-cop sequel that leans harder into absurdity, meta-jokes, and the chemistry between its leads. It’s less about the mystery than about escalating gags, bromance tension, and a surprisingly affectionate parody of franchise filmmaking.
22 Jump Street
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Crime · Comedy
Thu · 1h 52m
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare
Overview
After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don't have to just crack the case - they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them.
Director
Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Cast
Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare
Curator Review
Verdict
A fast, self-aware buddy-cop sequel that leans harder into absurdity, meta-jokes, and the chemistry between its leads. It’s less about the mystery than about escalating gags, bromance tension, and a surprisingly affectionate parody of franchise filmmaking.
Best for
Viewers who like raunchy action-comedies with a strong duo dynamic
Fans of meta-humor and sequel jokes
People who enjoyed the first film and want a bigger, sillier version
Audiences who like college-set comedies with undercover chaos
Skip if
You want tightly plotted crime storytelling
You dislike crude, high-energy studio comedies
Meta jokes and self-parody annoy you
You prefer action films with serious stakes
Overview
22 Jump Street knows exactly what it is: a sequel that openly jokes about being a sequel while still delivering a crowd-pleasing buddy comedy. The undercover college setup gives it a fresh playground for identity swaps, social-clique satire, and increasingly ridiculous set pieces, all built around the easy chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.
Worth noting
What makes it work is the balance between stupidity and craft. The movie keeps finding new ways to turn one joke into a running engine, whether it’s the football-team bromance, the art-student pretension, or the film’s constant awareness that it’s repeating itself on purpose. It’s broad, loud, and often juvenile, but it’s also unusually disciplined in how it escalates its own nonsense.
Bottom line
If you’re in the mood for a comedy that is both dumb and smart about being dumb, this is a very easy watch. It’s not subtle, but it is sharp about friendship, masculinity, and the weird pressure to “grow up” without losing the fun.
Top Letterboxd reviews
•lily• (4.5★) · 9327 likes
Slam... poetry😳🤭 YELLING😤😱 Angry😡🤬 WAVING MY HANDS🤗A LOT😠🤚 Specific point of view🤯on things🧐 Cynthia👩! Cyn-thi-a👩👈 Jesus😇died😵for our sin-thi-as👏😌! Jesus cried😭😞, runaway🏃♀️bride👰 Julia Roberts🙋♀️Julia Rob-hurts🤷♀️????! Cynthia👉👩! Mmmmmmmm🥰, Cynthia. You're dead. You 👩👈 are = dead💀 bop boop🤖beep bop💃bop boop🕺bop. You're dead🙅♀️☠️. That's for Cynthia... who's dead👉👩=👻
Frandi Peralta (4★) · 4075 likes
"My name's Jeff" I NEED 23 JUMP STREET!!
Muriel · 3647 likes
just sitting here... waiting for 27 jump street: culinary school...
grace (4★) · 2907 likes
julia roberts! julia rob🔫hurts😔
lanie (4★) · 2877 likes
they are soo gay
Themes
buddy cop partnership, undercover identity, college life, male friendship, masculinity, meta-humor, franchise parody, immaturity vs growth
Topics
buddy comedy, action-comedy, college setting, undercover cops, meta satire, raunchy humor, male friendship, franchise parody, 2010s comedy