21 Jump Street (2012)

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Written by Michael Bacall and Jonah Hill 

Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube and Brie Larson

     A comedy, spin-off from the popular 80's television show starring Johnny Depp, "21 Jump Street." This old crime show didn't really have a high demand for a spin-off, but this comedy about an unlikely duo working on the same team undercover as high school students, is quite comical. I didn't have high expectations going into this film considering i'm not the biggest Jonah Hill fan, and Channing Tatum isn't normally a comedy star- however this film proved me wrong. 

     Schmidt (Jonah Hill) was the pudgy nerd in high school, with braces and acne, who couldn't work up the nerve to ask a girl to prom. Jenko (Channing Tatum) was the long-haired athlete who shoved kids like Schmidt in lockers in high school. They were polar opposites in high school, and 8 years later when they're both in the police academy, they're still that way. The two quickly find out they need each other when Schmidt can't pass the physical exam, and Jenko can't pass the written exam. Once the two graduate and prepare for an exciting career on the force, they quickly discover it is not what they were hoping when they're stuck patrolling a park on bicycles. After their brief lapse of shame, they're exiled to an undercover unit that is investigating a new drug that has infiltrated a local high school. Led by the head honcho, veteran cop (Ice Cube), the two are forced to reprise their roles as high school students in order to find the supplier of this drug. 

     While Jenko is much more bitty about returning to high school than Schmidt- that quickly reverses when they both realize how what is "cool" in high school is way different from 8 years prior. Schmidt sinks right into the cool kid crowd led by the superior, Eric Molson (Dave Franco)- and even ventures so deeply into the facade of being a high school student that he asks the sweet Molly (Brie Larson) to the prom. While on the other hand, Jenko ironically begins to hangout with the nerd crowd. 

     The funny thing about this movie is how much Tatum and Hill don't look like high school students at all- and the writers aren't shy about pointing that out in the script. This film could have been utterly cliche with the unlikely duo being paired together and becoming best friends or "brothers" in this case - but 21 Jump Street was not at all. It started with a lot of momentum and never really died down. Hill has an impressive track record with two oscar nominations to his name, so now blockbuster comedies like this are a piece of cake for him as this movie clearly exemplifies. Tatum is funny as the stupid hot guy, once again proving we can't all be pretty and smart. 

I give 21 Jump Street a...

7/10

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

Written by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle

Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr. 

     A reboot of sorts of the 2008 horror/mystery film, Cloverfield- 10 Cloverfield Lane is brought to us with the same level of suspense and mystery. This mysterious horror film will leave you in suspense from start to finish. Director Dan Trachtenberg delivers his first big blockbuster hit with the assistance of a few writers including Damien Chazelle (yup, thats right- the director of La La Land is a writer for this film). 

     The movie begins with an intense car wreck which leaves Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), waking up in a basement, chained to the wall. Not knowing where she is or how she got there, she soon meets her captor, Howard (John Goodman). Along with former handyman of Howard, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.)- Michelle shortly discovers the apparent, imminent danger going on outside. She was taken into a doomsday bunker following her crash and the hulking, scary Howard claims he "saved her." According to him, apocalyptic events have occurred and it is not safe to go outside. He intends on the three of them staying inside the underground shelter until things are safe. Obviously Michelle is a skeptic, because what sane person who just awoke from a car wreck in a mysterious basement would be on board with this lunacy. As the movie progresses however, we soon learn that Howard's ramblings of the apocalypse may actually be true. 

     Trachtenberg does a superb job at maintaining this level of mystery throughout the entire film. Set in a much different environment than the original Cloverfield, there is never really a dull moment- which is quite possible considering the set of the movie is a claustrophobic underground bunker. The movie keeps us guessing constantly. Who really is Howard? A lonely savior who predicted the apocalypse- or a deranged kidnapper? Is the earth really under attack, and if so by what? 

This nail-biting level of suspense was hovering over me the whole film. 

     Although not a very big name, I liked Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the lead role. Her level of paranoia was never over-the-top like we see from a lot of female horror movie stars. She was calm and collect and secretive over her suspicions of Howard. John Goodman was very creepy- yet also had some scenes where you almost sympathized with his character. I can't see anyone else playing this role. 

     A real psychological thriller. The suspense never really lagged. This is one of those horror movies you really can't explain, when your friends ask you what it's about. It's a movie worth seeing if you're seeking a suspenseful mystery movie. The constant not knowing over what is going on in the outside, and who Howard really is- is what makes this movie scary. There's no forced "jumpy" scenes. Just a real psychological thriller. 

I give 10 Cloverfield Lane a...

7/10