21 Jump Street: "Own Your Stereotypes, MFers."

I will be the first to stand up and admit that there was no way in the H-E double hockey sticks that I wanted 21 Jump Street the movie to be made. The original show was MINE. It was where my 26 year love affair with Johnny Depp was cemented. Then I saw the trailer and was like WTFH? A comedy? Oh so oh no, what blasphemy! However, some good tweeps and blog buddies, whose opinions I have grown to value, gave it great reviews. Then my sidekick aka The Nephew, wanted to see it. One arm twist and some big brown eyes later, off I went.

OMG did I laugh. I was actually wheezing in some scenes and that is rare. Maybe this caught me on a good day, I don't know. Whatever the case, this keystone cop flick served up the laughs covered in raunchy deliciousness. And oh, how I love me a dirty comedy.

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill are brilliant as Jenko and Schmidt, two polar opposite high school classmates who grow up to attend the police academy together. They help each other through and become best friends in the process. You knew they were going to be buddies, it's the way of this particular trope. Upon graduation, they are ready for some suspect ass-kicking, gun fights and car chases. Not so fast, my little rookies. They get assigned to Park Patrol and spend an inordinate amount of time riding around on these awful bikes that have lights and sirens (I shit you not), ticketing litterers, loiterers and dog owners who don't clean up after their four-legged companions. In between these tough cases, they slack off and play games.

Until one day the pair actually manage to spot a real drug deal. After a brilliant Police Academy-esque chase scene, they make an arrest. However, they are so inept at it, the suspect goes free and they get shipped to Jump Street, a "recycled" program from the 80's. I love that like the original show, the Jump Street program is located in an old church. Ice Cube dons the captain's bars and his comic performance is just raving brilliant as he does his twist on Captain Fuller from the old series. "You are here because you are some Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus looking muthas." And my other fave, "Own your stereotypes, mutha fuckas."

Between trying to infiltrate a teenage drug ring, fit in with their classmates and pass their classes, Jenko and Schmidt are up to their asses in alligators. Of course, Tatum and Hill look about as much like real teenagers as the cast of Gossip Girl. Michael Bacall's script skillfully makes use of this with some pretty hilarious comments on early puberty and Tatum's size.

The film loses some of its comedy steam when it takes itself too seriously with some added dramatic moments, but then it picks right back up before you can say WTH? One of the best moments in this movie are the cameos of Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson and Peter Deluise as their characters from the original show. I nearly wept with joy.

For a killer time and a lot of dirty good fun, see 21 Jump Street. I can't believe I'm saying it as a hardcore fan of the show, but there you go. It was epic fun.

Now, before I leave you, just for shits and giggles, here are some interesting factoids about the old series:

*Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Josh Brolin, Bridget Fonda and Jada Pinkett Smith were all guest stars.

*The cast often gave PSA's after the episodes aired

*Holly Robinson sang the theme song while Johnny Depp and Peter Deluise sang background. That's the two of them singing "Jump! Down on Jump Street."

*The show was based on a real unit in the LAPD.

Oh and look at how pretty they were and so 80's. FYI, my hair was just as big as Holly's. In fact, I had my own hole in the ozone with a giant can of Aquanet Hairspray that I carried everywhere. Lord, was I ever a fire hazard.