Release

DVD weekly: Channing's manliness and sharks are awesome

Matt

9th July 2012

It's that DVD time, where I talk about the biggest release of the week at length and then do whatever I can to quickly fill the remainder of this feature with as little effort as possible.

Released: Monday 9th July 2012

21 Jump Street (2012) DVD & Blu-ray
Buy the DVD on Amazon for £10.00

21 Jump Street

Channing Tatum is in everything at the moment, isn't he? So far this year, we've seen him brawl with Gina Carano in Haywire and get all gooey-eyed over Rachel McAdams in The Vow, and, later this week, women will be humidifying cinemas everywhere when they'll totes get to see C-Tates' scrote in Magic Mike. And of course, he's in this; the latest in a long line of goofball comedy remakes of long-gone TV shows. Amazingly, though, for someone whose career seems to have been built on the ability to dance soppily, he's pretty bloody brilliant in this.

The film itself is quite a surprise; between the semi-improv stylings of writer and star Jonah Hill and the film's telly remake roots, we should all know what to expect from this action comedy caper. And yet, the rapid fire scripted gags mixed with the general silly behaviour from the co-stars make for hugely fun viewing. It’s not necessarily a sharp script that’s big or clever, but you just know that everyone had a blast making this film and it comes across in every scene.

Tatum and Hill seem like an odd pairing but they make for a great buddy cop comedy duo. While the newly slimmed-down latter continues a streak of roles that allow for hilariously sweary one-liners, it's Tatum who impresses the most here, matching Hill's tone for immature (often sex-related), off-the-cuff dialogue, as well as some choice physical comedy moments. One scene, which sees the muscular superhunk hijack a school orchestra rehearsal while tripping balls, had me literally weeping with laughter.

And then there’s the supporting cast filled with memorably funny characters. Ice Cube’s shouting chief is a cliché that is embraced and pushed to its limits, while even The US Office’s Ellie Kemper shines in a small role as the chemistry teacher suddenly infatuated with new pupil Tatum. It’s the boom-voiced Rob Riggle, however, who steals many of the scenes as the gym teacher equally mesmerised by Tatum’s muscle definition as he is disappointed in Hill’s.

Overall, amid a period where the Apatow-approved improvised comedies are spreading out across Hollywood and starting to feel a little predictable, 21 Jump Street somehow manages to be a refreshing addition to the genre. It’s self-aware and pokes fun at its own concept without ever getting bogged down in full-on parody of the original show and, as a result, the film feels a lot smarter than the cuss-filled dialogue would suggest. Plus, it has even made me a fan of Channing Tatum. I might even go to see Magic Mike. Yes, just to see his penis.

Read the original review
Jurassic Shark (2012) DVD & Blu-ray
Buy the DVD on Amazon for £6.49

Jurassic Shark

(*applauds*).
Also out this week

Absentia DVD
Battle Of Algiers Blu-ray
God Bless America DVD
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia Blu-ray
Rampart DVD & Blu-ray

More:  DVD Weekly
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