21 Jump Street

In the late 80s, a TV show about young undercover cops infiltrating high schools in order to crack down on criminal activity amongst teenagers was born – this was 21 Jump Street. Fast forward to 2012, and the reboot of the franchise in the form of a movie of the same name was released, starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as the leading actors.

The original series was created by Patrick Hasburgh and Stephen J. Cannell and starred Johnny Depp in his breakout role as Officer Tom Hanson, alongside Peter DeLuise and Holly Robinson Peete. It ran for five seasons from 1987-1991 and became a hit due to its unique concept of young cops blending in with the high school crowd to solve crimes, as well as its tackling of hard-hitting social issues.

The show was known for its serious tone and its tackling of topics such as drug use, teenage prostitution, and hate crimes. It gained notoriety for breaking away from standard police procedurals of the time, and instead focused on the dynamic between the young cops, their struggles with balancing their undercover lives with their personal lives, and the relationships they formed with the teenagers they were tasked with protecting.

When it came to the movie adaptation, a lot had changed since the TV show aired. For one thing, the world of high school had changed drastically, becoming a very different place from what it was in the late 80s and early 90s. Additionally, audiences had become accustomed to more comedic takes on police procedurals, with films such as the Police Academy series setting the groundwork for this type of humor.

These elements are reflected in the 2012 adaptation, which takes the core concept of 21 Jump Street and adds a comedic twist. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill star as former high school underachievers who are recruited to become undercover cops and are sent back to their old high school to investigate a new drug that’s making the rounds. The movie flips the premise of the original show on its head, as the cops’ age is no longer what makes them unique, but rather their inability to blend in and their lack of maturity.

The film plays on the outdated clichés of 80s high school movies, including jock-nerd dynamics and the power of popularity, and delivers it with a self-awareness that pokes fun at those tropes. The comedy of the movie comes from the absurdity of the situations, and its aware of its own ridiculousness, leading to a hilarious and often crass take on the original concept.

The movie, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, was a massive success and went on to spawn a sequel, 22 Jump Street, which continued the story of the two undercover cops in college with similarly hilarious results. The franchise has since become known for its self-referential humor, including poking fun at the very idea of a franchise, and has become a beloved addition to the world of cop comedies.

In conclusion, 21 Jump Street started off as a serious drama about young cops infiltrating high schools, but has since become a hilarious example of a reboot that reinvented the original concept. The movie adaptations have taken the core idea of the show and used it as a foundation for a comedy franchise that shines due to its self-referential humor and awareness of its own ridiculousness. Much like its TV predecessor, 21 Jump Street has become a hit due to its unique take on the world of cops and teenagers.