MovieChat Forums > 21 Jump Street (2012) Discussion > Please explain to me why this is 'funny'

Please explain to me why this is 'funny'

posted 12 years ago by travismcelroy
167 replies | jump to latest

Okay, I read
<a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120314/REVIEWS/120319996">Ebert's Review</a>. Usually I don't care about what he thinks, in fact I use it as a reference point for what I like...in that, he usually hates on things that most people consider "good." Seeing as the great majority of IMdBers are in favor of this latest heap of nonsense, I would've assumed Ebert would've given it a 0...but no, it got a 3/4 stars...WHY?

Before you ask, yes...I saw the movie last night. Granted, I had no desire to see it, but a friend begged to see it (over The Hunger Games), so I gave in...And I did try to watch it with an open mind, but that closed pretty early in the movie. First and foremost...I couldn't care about ANY of the characters. Didn't believe Jonah's portrayal (I thought he did an awesome job in Moneyball...playing a different character, with a competent screenplay). This script (written by Jonah apparently) was flimsy at best, no explanation given for why Jonah or Channing want to be cops...It wasn't even hinted at when they were in high school, and the whole Police Academy sequence was pointless. In what universe does the Police graduate people who don't know the Miranda Rights? Additionally, the only way I knew that they were even friends was because Channing had to actually state that "now we're best buds"...Could've fooled me...When a movie is structurally and fundamentally so bad, it makes it difficult to stay connected and even invest in any of the humor. Which brings me to Ice Cube...WTF??? I like the guy as an actor (Friday is hysterical), but I saw the Captain character as utterly ridiculous. I might add, at this point, the filmmakers would've been well suited to not even try to do a "straight comedy"...but just go ahead cross the line and go for "parody"...Perhaps this could've been "Not Another Buddy Cop Movie"...THEN this stuff might've been funny...doubtful, but at least it would set the right tone and context...

However, there was a funny line from Offerman, which was basically plot exposition saying that the Police force was reviving the Jump Street program because it had lost all imagination and wanted to rehash the old times. I laughed out loud at that and replied back "Just like the writers of this movie." No, that was probably not an intentionally funny part...but after that moment, every car chase, perp rundown, drug tripping sequence, dick joke, slapstick falldown that was supposed to be "funny," I just cringed and sighed. It is clear the filmmakers don't care about the characters or the audience, so why should I?

As the movie went on, I just got angrier and angrier, not only at the unimaginative dolts at the Sony/Original Film and all the executives who gave this the Green Light, but at my fellow audience members. They were howling and laughing at things that objectively just are NOT funny. And don't say I don't have a sense of humor, I know what funny is...Easy A - Hilarious/Satirical. Horrible Bosses - Dark Comedy. Hall Pass - Intelligent Dick Jokes. It just bothered me that the average movie goer actually thinks this garbage is funny...Crude Style with no Substance...no wonder the rest of the World hates us...

It should be noted that Brie Lawson is hot (obviously), but also a shining spot in an otherwise lame, dull, and pointless waste of 107 minutes. Side note: most big-budget action movies excel in product placement. If you look at this, no corporate sponsor wanted to come close to being associated with it. The billboard sign was for "Bullion Cubes", and "New Movie II"...the requisite gas tank that has to explode has "Oil & Fuel" (no company name)...If even Corporate America doesn't want to touch this film...perhaps we shouldn't either.

Anyways, I close with a challenge to debate...Please respond with intelligent comments/evidence/proof that I must've missed something, and explain why this made you laugh.

Thanks!

[–] googlevitch-el 12 years ago

Because comedy is subjective because of it people laughed and you didnt. The End. The end? is that how you finish this.

WE ARREST PPL NOWhttp://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0xb4pNij91rrj8bio1_500.gif21JumpST.

[–] deadbodieseverywhere17 12 years ago

Because comedy is subjective because of it people laughed and you didnt. The End. The end? is that how you finish this.

This exactly. Why would anyone go to a comedy board and ask "why is this funny." The OP asked for intelligent answers to a stupid question. It's like any genre. Why is a certain movie scary when to someone else it might be laughable. Simple answer, everyone has different taste. There are only two reasons I can see for asking this.

1: Troll

2: They want to try and seem smarter than or belittle the people who enjoyed it.

Since it was a long post, I believe it is the second option.

"Why do people visit boards of movies they dislike to complain? Absolutely nothing else to do!"

[–] patrick-413 9 years ago

^ All that needs to be said. That and "because I laughed a lot".

[–] oxxido 12 years ago

THANKS! i thought the same thing and your comment was exactly what i wanted to reply hehe =)

[–] fg400a 12 years ago

"It wasn't even hinted at when they were in high school"

You lost any credibility with that line, the first shot of the movie clearly shows "The year 2005"

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[–] Snickg78 12 years ago

If you want the OP to understand, you sould end your comment FIN.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] crimmers 12 years ago

However, there was a funny line from Offerman, which was basically plot exposition saying that the Police force was reviving the Jump Street program because it had lost all imagination and wanted to rehash the old times. I laughed out loud at that and replied back "Just like the writers of this movie." No, that was probably not an intentionally funny part...

Um... I'm pretty sure that this was intentionally funny. You're clearly taking the movie way too seriously and its a good thing that the writers can poke fun at themselves. After all, it does seem like 90% of movies now are lame remakes.

Side note: most big-budget action movies excel in product placement. If you look at this, no corporate sponsor wanted to come close to being associated with it. The billboard sign was for "Bullion Cubes", and "New Movie II"...the requisite gas tank that has to explode has "Oil & Fuel" (no company name)...If even Corporate America doesn't want to touch this film...perhaps we shouldn't either.

So wait, you're insulting the movie for having too little product placement? I think that's a first. Again, I see this as a joke, and its a good sign that the creators would rather put in jokes than make money on annoying placements.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] dodgyb2001 12 years ago

The whole film had a meta textual layer. Even the teachers were saying things like 'I feel so ineffectual, I feel like I should be doing something, but can't" which was probably because the teachers in the original show were useless (I say probably because I've never seen the show, just hazarding a guess)....

I am really amazed you didn't get this. Unless you're being meta as well, taking the mickey out of people who don't get obvious parodies.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] gapeach1 12 years ago

Sometimes people over analyze movies. First of all it's comedy and comedies are not usually real life. I thought it was a really funny movie. Everyone in the theatre were laughing their butts off.

Just see it and enjoy a really funny movie - not real life.

[–] ilike_panama 12 years ago

Now that you say it was a comedy... guess what... the original series -21 Jump Street (1987)- was Crime | Drama | Mystery series, it was not supposed to be a comedy. It had its funny moments but I would never catalogue it as a comedy. However this brand-new movie is supposedly to be based on that dramtic series.

It's like someone said within the next 20 years 'Hey! I will make a new movie and it will be based on Game of Thrones'. And when everyone goes to the movies it turns out that it's an Epic movie comedy, not a dramatic movie.

I guess that's what made the OP and any other person mad about this 21 Jump Street (2012) movie.

erika from panama

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] ferreira0665 12 years ago

But it was obvious it was going to be a comedy straight from the trailers. If you went into the movie thinking it was going to be a serious movie, that is your fault. Also lets not forget there were very few episodes of the original series that wasn't overly cheesy. Jonah Hill has flat out said he didn't like the tv show. So the whole movie is making fun of the tv show.

No it wasn't disrespect to Johnny Depp for doing a cameo because Johnny Depp left the show because the creators wouldn't allow Depp to really dive into the characters he was portraying. Depp didn't like it so that is why he left as like a season finale and isn't mentioned to his whereabouts at the beginning of the next.

Now I haven't seen the movie but I want to.

[–] Snickg78 12 years ago

Whatever you do, don't watch Starsky and Hutch. It will kill everythign you know about remaking shows from 20-ish years before.

[–] xample-1 11 years ago

You could even tell by the cast that it's going to be a comedy.

[–] Miki_The_Istari 8 years ago

I think there were two reasons for why choosing the "brand" 21 Jump Street.
i)The plot being so similar that there could be lawsuits if not.
ii)Bank in on the fact that 21 Jump Street started to get an cult following because of Depp's involvement in the series.

[–] dodgyb2001 12 years ago

Apologies, I was just replying to the OP, not you :)

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] jockey-1 12 years ago

This is the best comment on the board about the movie. Probably the most intriguing aspect of the film was, as you put it, the meta textual layer. There were elements of it, everywhere.

I wish admins would stop deleting posts, so, that I could see what inspired your comment. Block / ban, don't censor, FFS.

Ron Paul 2012: Pledge your support at http://2012.RonPaul.com

[–] danielvutran 12 years ago

Melissa........ You think exactly like me.

[–] JacquesStrappe 12 years ago

"you can't give an unbiased opinion"

Interesting. Someone asks for debate, and perhaps reasons why or how he may have missed the point, and in response receives caustic and insulting comments from those that believe this movie is hysterical, and everyone whose opinion differs must be stupid. I suppose, judging from your diatribe, that you cannot give an unbiased opinion either.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] JacquesStrappe 12 years ago

Reading it is one thing. Making sense of the confused jumble is quite another. Perhaps if you elucidated your explanation, sans insults, it might make more sense.

[–] insanicalstudios 12 years ago

Exactly what part of melissa's post did you find confusing? Seemed pretty straight forward to me and to the OP aswell.
Also care to point out the part where she insulted the OP? He even seemed to appreciate her post because she didn't insult him and give him a reasonable debate.
Your attack on her post seems rather unjustified. Have you had an argument with her before and just have some kind of hatred for her?

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Snickg78 12 years ago

An opinion may be based in fact, but the fact that it's your opinion makes it biased. That's true for everyone and also why there's a difference between facts and opinions.

[–] capt-lunatic 12 years ago

People need to stop taking their five year olds to R rated movies. They just get confused and make threads like these.

[–] bnkholen 12 years ago

After seeing the film, I was surprised to see the generally glowing reviews. It was okay, but I agree with the O.P. about the general unlikeability of the characters. Like many comedies today, the movie swims in crudeness, some of it funny, a lot of it, just crude. As parody, it didn't seem that fresh or particularily innovative (something which "The Other Guys" was.) I don't know maybe I'm just getting too old, but constant dick jokes just isn't that funny anymore.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] pleinelune 12 years ago

My thoughts exactly. Was looking forward to seeing it but ended up being disappointed with the crudeness that was, as you say, just crude :-(

[–] reyaanshah 12 years ago

I thought the movie was hilarious and I was laughing the whole time, but one thing that bothered me was that the beginning was WAYYY to fast. it's like *BOOM* he's in high school now *BOOM* he's a cop and *BOOM* he and Channing Tatum are partners. it kind of went a bit crazy there. besides that, the movie was hilarious. your not supposed to take it that seriously. and don't get mad at the audience for laughing at what they think is funny. it's clearly NOT your sense of humor.

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[–] GooGooTheDinosaur 12 years ago

-This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, period. And I actually have a film degree.-

I refuse to believe this is a sincere statement.

"I need about tree-fitty."

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] travismcelroy 12 years ago

Crimmers/Melissax3/xBat_Manx> Thank you for engaging in intelligent discussion. IMdB and the internet in general is too full of "U suck, U hater"..."I don't suck, you suck"...type of discourse...It is refreshing to see that you were able to look at my argument for what is is and provide counter-point without diverting into the irrelevant and crude.

That said, I have since read other reviews which also reference the in-jokes that you did...So it is possible that I might've taken the movie too seriously, in that I expected (from the previews/advertisements) a legitimate action-comedy (like Bad Boys or Lethal Weapon), but did instead get a spoof/send-up of the police genre...In that case, then my problem would be execution...Since I couldn't tell whether it was intentionally bad to be funny, or just bad (like "Observe & Report" or "30 Minutes or Less")

Even still, I stand by the idea of having to care about the characters before investing in the humor...so perhaps I might give it a second watch when it comes to Netflix.

bnkholen would agree as well...and to a degree so does Reyaanshah. The thing is is this sort of thing IS my sense of humor, if it was better set-up and executed...another example ("Old School" and "The Hangover"...well done, good crude comedies) I don't take myself and things too seriously, but I do expect for a movie to respect it's own reality. This felt very much like the crappy Dukes of Hazzard movie, didn't laugh once through it as well.

Thanks for the discussion!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] dodgyb2001 12 years ago

That's interesting, as while I thought the Hangover was funny in parts, I didn't think it was as good as it was made out to be. I was expecting the links between the different incidents to be much stronger, but mostly they were of the nature of someone coming up to them and telling them where they were next, not really of a string of causes and effects. This made the film very bitty for me.

In 21 jump street I felt they really thought through their ideas and pushed themselves to fill every line or situation with some form of humour. In the end though, sense of humour is a personal thing, so whatever makes you laugh.

[–] [email protected] 12 years ago

I couldn't agree with your first post more. I thought the movie terrible... 21 Jump Street, while they could have added humour to it...didn't need the Green Hornet makeover..

I found the jokes terrible...the drug trip unrealistic, Ice-Cube...annoying as always. The in-joke about rehashing old ideas was cheesy.

I had heard this was a better remake, but I certainly didn't find it so. I like movies like Superbad.... when the movie is suited to that style.

Watching 21 Jump Street the TV series nowadays can be pretty corny, but the thing is, it wasn't in the 80's.

This fell way off the mark. So much I actually logged in to imdb to bitch...i never do that.

[–] rebekahrox 12 years ago

You found "the drug trip unrealistic" ??? You found "The. Drug. Trip. Unrealistic." sorry, just trying to get my brain around that criticism.

[–] roxyb03-170-975082 11 years ago

The TV series was just as corny in the 80's as it looks today, it seemed as stupid then as the more recent WB and CW teen series' seem now.