21 Jump Street

Sequel: “22 Jump Street” (2014)

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill star in the remake of the four-year television series of the same name. It doesn’t stay that faithful to the original show, but it has cameos from some of the former actors and a fast-paced plot.

Jenko and Schmidt used to be enemies in high school, but fresh graduates of the police academy they’re bored bike patrolling a park. When failing to read a criminal his Miranda rights, they are sent to 21 Jump Street to begin an undercover operation to find out who has been making and dealing a new drug at a high school.

Despite a well-written script, “21 Jump Street” is a thoroughly worldly movie that’s very vulgar. There are easily over 130 uses of vulgar language, including at least 80 uses of f__k and 30 sh_t. Though I wouldn’t doubt that there’s more, since I had a hard time keeping up with the amount spewed out. There are also several uses of d_ck and other sexually explicit sayings and actions. Three people are briefly shown nude in a threesome. Profanity includes “G_d-damn” (3), “Jesus” (3), and OMG.

There are numerous scenes of fistfights and gunplay. The gunshot wounds are quite realistic and bloody. One guy gets shot through the neck. A man is shot in the groin, resulting in a part of his privates falling off. He then tries to pick up the detached piece with his mouth, when a police officer refuses to help him.

The base for the undercover operation takes place in an abandoned Korean Christian church. When the police captain (Ice Cube) addresses the policemen, he stands behind the pulpit, as if a real preacher and begins to speak, using “mf” repeatedly. Before going undercover, Schmidt prays to the “Korean Jesus” and curses a few times during his prayer. When overhearing, the police captain says not to bother “Korean Jesus,” since he is too busy to listen to Schmidt’s “sh_t.”

Schmidt appears unsure in his prayer, even admitting to not knowing if Jesus existed. Prayer is essential in the daily walk for believers of Christ. Faith is required (Matthew 21:22). Not only faith, but also confidence. During a Bible study, I remember a comment that was made about God answering all prayers, either by silence or by action. If what we pray for doesn’t occur, then His silence confirms that it wasn’t in His will. In 1 John 5:14, he wrote:

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill make a humorous duo, and I hope that they collaborate again, albeit in a cleaner film. I recommend that Christians completely skip “21 Jump Street”. It isn’t suitable for our commanded narrow walk (Matthew 7:13).

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Negative
• Young people