22 Jump Street gallery
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this sequel to 2012's hit 21 Jump Street is nearly as hilarious -- and easily as crass. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return as undercover cops Schmidt and Jenko; their bromance is one of the franchise's main selling points, and they keep it going here. Expect tons of lewd and crude jokes about sex, college, work, and the like (some jokes about a strong friendship between two guys have a homophobic subtext that comes off as overly tasteless/uncomfortable instead of funny). There isn't much nudity, but couples are seen in their underwear, presumably post hook-up; co-eds converge on a spring break beach community in skimpy bathing suits; and one scene shows a man pretending to perform a sex act on another. There's also action movie-style violence, from gun fights and hand-to-hand combat to car chases and explosions, but mostly portrayed in a cartoonish fashion and is played for laughs. Prepare for loads of swearing -- including "s--t," "bitch," and many variations on "f--k" -- and some underage drinking at college parties. As in the first one, the plot has a drug-related focus (the guys are investigating a new recreational drug that killed a college student).
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's the story?
Hapless-but-hilarious detectives Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are back as partners on the crime beat. This time, they're taking their dubious undercover police work to college, where a new drug, dubbed WHYPHY (as in "work hard, yes, play hard, yes"), has taken the life of one co-ed. The captain (Ice Cube) wants them on the case, so off to the dorms they go. But Jenko's budding bro-ship with a football teammate, Zook (Wyatt Russell), who's also the head of a frat that wants Jenko to join them, is icing out Schmidt.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Sequels rarely trump originals, especially when the first movies are as laugh-out-loud funny as 21 Jump Street was. And 22 JUMP STREET is no exception to the rule. Though it's funny enough, especially when in massive "meta" mode -- one brilliant bit has characters commenting on everything from set design to the wastefulness of having the captain wear $800 sneakers that won't even be seen in the frame -- its comedic punches don't have the same power as its predecessor.
For starters, there are the jokes that border on homophobia. Ostensibly, the movie has Jenko gaining new insight into his own use of slur words, and yet his friendship with Zook is mined endlessly (and sometimes clunkily) for homoerotic jokes. Still, 22 Jump Street continues to successfully explore the complexities of male friendships (Tatum and Hill should bottle their chemistry). And the wild-and-wacky, anything-goes vibe that gifted the first film with such zest does run through this sequel, too, especially as Jenko and Schmidt navigate a new world order of earnest-but-crazy college professors, manic dorm-mates (shout-out to the Yang brothers, played with absolute hilarity by the Lucas twins), and dating confusion. But as one character jokes in the film, follow-ups are never as good as the first time. When the best joke turns out to be the film's closing credits (which take closing credits to another level), you know that lightning may have struck close by, but not in exactly the same spot.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the fact that, while 22 Jump Street has gun fights, they're played with loads of machismo and humor. Does that diminish the grittiness of the violence? Or its impact?
One one hand, the movie has a subplot about one character discovering the destructiveness of certain slur words, and yet these moments are played for laughs. Is that effective -- or even appropriate?
What does 22 Jump Street have in common with other buddy comedies? How is it better or worse?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | June 13, 2014 |
| DVD release date: | November 18, 2014 |
| Cast: | Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube |
| Directors: | Phil Lord, Christopher Miller |
| Studio: | Columbia Pictures |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Topics: | Friendship |
| Run time: | 112 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language throughout, sexual content, drug material, brief nudity and some violence |
Great handpicked alternatives
For kids who love action and comedy
Browse more movies
Top advice and articles
What parents and kids say
Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines
QUALITY
SO FUNNY
Extremely humorous and enjoyable! Granted, it's very slapstick and definitely not for people who enjoy intellectual films. Still, it's worth watching because it really is very funny! Fair warning: a LOT of swearing.
What other families should know
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Was this review useful?
QUALITY
Hilarious Sequel, Still Too Crude for Older Teens.
"22 Jump Street" is a great sequel, but still as mature as the first. Sex-reference to "watching people f--k or can we actually f--k?" References to: sleeping with students (said by a teacher, lesbians, tampons, and boners (erections). A reference to woman's nipples producing milk as the guy from 21 Jump Street is back "without a d--k" and then says "they gave me a vagina! It's awesome!" Then, he implies that Eric, also from 21 Jump Street, had sex with him, but Eric makes it clear that that's not true. References to fornicating, thrusting, pumping, etc. Schmidt gets mad that Jenko has a new friend and says "why don't you guys tie your d--ks together and get married?" Schmidt asks Maya, as they are looking at a sculpture of two huge eggs, what she thinks it looks like and she says she doesn't know. So, Schmidt says "You can't admit that it looks like testicles?" and she says "Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking." Schmidt and Maya are, later, shown the morning after they've had sex, fully covered, no nudity shown or implied. During the same scene, Maya's roommate says to Schmidt "you're like the loudest climaxer I've ever heard." In a later scene, Schmidt says to another guy that he got laid (had sex) and describes it a little. More references to homosexuals. Someone says that Schmidt is "a bag of d--ks." Jenko finds a sex toy of a penis is found in a college student's dorm room and throws it at Schmidt. Toward the end, Jenko sticks his hand up Jenko's shorts. He accidentally grabs his penis, and Schmidt says "No, that's my d--k!" Then, Jenko tries again and Schmidt says "That's also my d--k!"
Language-very frequent, strong language includes: "BS," b--ch, vagina, penis, biga--, d--k, f--kers, goddamn, goddammit, f--k, hell, bulls--t, motherf--ker, motherf--king, holy s--t, p---y, a--, Jesus Christ!, sons of b--ches, f-gg-t, and nuts,
Violence-less violent than the first;no blood
Drinking/Drugs/Smoking-the song "Turn Down For What," which is all about getting wasted, is played in one scene. References to drinking alcohol and getting high. Schmidt, Jenko, and others are shown drinking, they are college students so they could be undreage, and partying a lot. This time, the drug is called Why Phy, sounding exactly like "wi-fi"and Schmidt and Jenko have to find the dealer of this drug. Comments are made like "are you f--king high?" Lots of discussion of drugs.
All in all, great sequel. It will appeal to older teens, but may be a better choice for adults. I'm excited to hear that there may possibly be another sequel, 23 Jump Street. Hopefully, we'll see Jenko and Schmidt in medical school!
What other families should know
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Was this review useful?
QUALITY
Hilarious Movie with some iffy parts
This Is a hilarious movie but the only bad part that parents wouldnt like is that there is a hell lot of swearing. Also there are some sexual jokes. And there is a lot of drinking at college parties you can see like hundreds of bottles of alchol. Still a hilarious movie
What other families should know
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Was this review useful?
Poll
What are the different ways that you access Common Sense Media ratings and information? (Check all that apply)
What are the different ways that you access Common Sense Media ratings and information? (Check all that apply)
Total votes: 760