 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
21 Jump Street
- Review Date: March 16, 2012
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
TV-based buddy comedy is crude but hilarious.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that 21 Jump Street is an often crude (but irreverently funny) action/buddy comedy based on the popular '80s TV series that launched Johnny Depp's career. This version stars popular actors Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as bumbling cops who attempt to redeem themselves by going undercover to bust a high school drug ring. The storyline leads to plenty of drug content (there's also pot smoking and some underage drinking), and you can also expect lots of strong language (including "f--k," "s--t," and more), crude references, and sexual innuendoes.
What's the story?
Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) weren't friends in high school. Schmidt was sensitive and smart and not particularly sporty; Jenko was the opposite. But the police academy they both attended is the great equalizer, and they each learn from the other's strengths ... even though they're not particularly good at their jobs (Jenko can't even remember the Miranda rights). So off to 21 Jump Street they go to prove they have what it takes by busting a major drug ring. The job entails pretending to be in high school again, and Schmidt's worried that he'll be uncool once again -- and, worse, forgotten. But the world has changed a whole lot, and so have the "cool kids." Turns out that the ones who used to be on the sidelines are ruling high school in more ways than one.
Is it any good?
This is how you remake a franchise. Rather than borrowing heavily from its '80s TV predecessor or mining the same, now-tired jokes as some other movies descended from previously known projects, 21 JUMP STREET is solidly in the present, even as it flashes back to the past. Its material is modern, its jokes whip-smart, and, as a result, it's a delight (as long as you're "mature" enough to handle the crude stuff, of course).
21 Jump Street's wit comes from the way that it pokes fun at high school and how its sociological makeup -- who's popular, who's not, what are kids these days up to? -- has changed over the years. The film actually twists some stereotypes on their heads. (The troubled kids are actually environmentalists and academically serious.) The drug plot is almost incidental, but not so incidental that it's a wash. It still propels the film forward and provides a great backdrop for the central theme to unfold: the friendship shared by the two leads. And Hill and Tatum have great chemistry, a main requirement of buddy cop movies. Both are in fine form. Who else is in fine form? Johnny Depp, who graciously makes a cameo that's hilarious and cheeky and satisfying. See this movie, stat.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how 21 Jump Street portrays high school. Is it realistic? Is it meant to be? Teens: How does this school compare to yours?
Parents, talk to your kids about social struggles and drug use in high school. Does this film depict either/both accurately? What are the consequences of substance use/abuse in real life?
How does the movie compare to the original 21 Jump Street TV show? If you were a fan of the series, is the movie what you expected?
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Parent
March 17, 2012
AGE
Good Movie
My 13 year old daughter and all of her friends went and saw this movie. They said it was really funny but super inappropriate. An adult went with them and said it was okay and that it was really gross at the end. The violence wasn't bad at all, just shooting. It's centered around drugs so, if your kid is afraid of drug use, NOT A GOOD CHOICE.
Overall, I am happy she went and saw it. It taught her about friendship and things along those lines! WONDERFUL MOVIE.
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Parent
March 17, 2012
AGE
Think before you take your kids to certain movies!!!!
I just went to go see this movie and I was appauled, not by the movie but a couple diffrent families who took their children to see it. hello its rated R. how hard is it to check a site like this. that was not appropriate and I was distracted by the childrens reactions to that stuff. the people right infront of me brought 3 young children to the movie when the lorax plays right next door. parents please think before you take your kids to movies!!! there was too much in this movie that 3 children the oldest of whom couldnt be more than 9 just dont need to see.
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Teen, 15 years old
March 17, 2012
AGE
ghk
Good Undercover T.V adaption on the Big screen with Educational Value about the Rights of getting arrested
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Teen, 16 years old
March 17, 2012
AGE
Great movie for the older teens and adults, but not for kids!
I saw this movie, and I am 16. It was absolutely hilarious, the whole theatre laughed a lot! (It is definitely VERY funny!) But, not for kids. Kids wouldn't understand a lot about this movie, which would make it boring for them, and there are some inappropriate scenes, including one where three people are seen naked in a bedroom (but, nothing is actually shown) and there is also a scene where there is a naked butt shown, but its in the background, and some might not see it. There is also a lot of sexual things said. It was a very good movie, especially for the people like me who have watched the actual 21 Jump Street show, and there are a few cameos from actors who were on the original show (Including Johnny Depp!) I'd say a must see for anyone who enjoys laugh out loud funny movies, and can handle the sexual stuff.
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Adult
March 21, 2012
AGE
21 jump street
i am so going to watch it in theatre
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Kid, 11 years old
March 20, 2012
AGE
Amazing movie for mature teens
This movie is an amamzing movie for MATURE TEENS!!! I went to see this with my friend and was hilarious but with some iffy parts to it... One part that really got my attention was the gun fights... I thought there would be a tiny bit of blood but there was alot more... what also got me was the language and use of drugs... I would recomend this movie to people 13 & up
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Teen, 14 years old
March 17, 2012
AGE
Best Movie Ever!
Hilarious action buddy comedy. Lots of sexual dialog and language. The fight at the end is bloody, but great movie!
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Teen, 13 years old
March 19, 2012
AGE
Really funny
i went to go see this movie with my dad and he ha no idea what it was. it was immediately oblivious this was not a kids movie. the charterers cussed non-stop,the sexual references were explicit,and the violence was bloody. however despite all the inappropriate content this movie was very funny. in my opinion the funniest parts didn't even involve sexual references. only three parts in this movie actually had nudity. the first part didn't show anything but it showed 3 teens in bed, the next was in the background and was only a mans butt, and the next involved a decapitated body part. set aside all of the inappropriate material it probably has nothing your teens haven't already heard and they would very much enjoy it.
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Parent
March 21, 2012
AGE
Hilarious For Adults, Not So for Kids
A lot of jokes and gags about male genitalia. Overall, a very funny movie, but I was glad I didn't let my 12 or 14 year old see it. They would have been uncomfortable during some parts.
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Adult
March 20, 2012
AGE
Funny movie - okay for older teens.
I took my sons, ages 14 and 16, to see this movie last week. It was fine for the 16 year old but probably not the 14 year old. I think he aged a couple of years in the 2 hours of watching the movie.
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| Topics: | friendship, high school |
| Studio: | Columbia Pictures |
| Directors: | Chris Miller, Phil Lord |
| Cast: | Brie Larson, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 16, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | June 26, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence |
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