21 Jump Street review

Two rookie cops, Jenko and Schmidt are sent back to high school as undercover cops, due to their youthful looks. They are given a different identity and their task is to infiltrate the drug dealers at school and find the supplier. A synthetic drug is the one in question.

While Schmidt was a loser when he was originally in school, he becomes a real hero this time around and makes friends with the happening dudes like Eric, at school. He impresses a girl as well named Molly.

Jenko is left out a bit but he too does his bit by befriending the nerds at school who help him to keep constant phone surveillance on Eric, who is the drug dealer at the school.

The 2 friends stick together despite some frictions and in the end they nab the supplier and make their first arrest as well. There are some funny chases which are entertaining.

The film works big time due to the male bonding between Jonah Hill as Schmidt and Channing Tatum as Jenko. While Channing is dashing and youthful, Jonah is a stark contrast with his clumsy ways and super funny dialogues. Jonah has slimmed down a lot, one must say. He is a comedian, plain and simple. The 2 stars have been involved with the creative and production aspects of the movie as well.

There is a sequel lined up where the 2 cops will be going undercover to college now. Should be worth watching out for.

VERDICT: Works due to the male bonding between the 2 lead stars. 

Haywire (2011)

This is a revenge story where a female black ops soldier gives it back to her male colleagues for setting her up in a mission at Barcelona. The motives behind the mission are obviously money. But, she escapes and succeeds in killing the people who were responsible for this

The film has some terrific action and chase sequences thanks to Gina Carano, a trained mixed martial arts fighter, kick boxer and fitness freak. It is fun seeing this busty action heroine strutting her stuff. The film has a good soundtrack too.

Channing Tatum and Ewan McGregor have minuscule roles. Antonio Banderas also makes the cast in another small role. Michael Douglas is there too.

The presentation and theme is similar to Kill Bill, though the motive for revenge here is purely professional.

VERDICT: Simple payback movie with a busty action heroine and her credible fight sequences. Strict one time watch.  

The Vow (2012)

This movie is based on a true life couple. Leo and Paige are happily married after falling in love. After an accident, Paige falls into a coma and later recovers with memory loss. She forgets the fact that Leo is her husband and only remembers her old life with her parents and her relationship with Jeremy, her earlier boyfriend.

Now, Leo has to win her back amid opposition from Paige's father and Paige's own uncertain ways due to her memory loss. His perseverance pays as Paige finally comes back to him after discovering certain important truths. Her memory never comes back though

Channing Tatum is really endearing with his earnest and natural portrayal. The same cannot be said of Rachel McAdams. She is obviously cute and charming but, after her memory loss, she starts getting onto your nerves with her same confused expressions and helpless self-pity.

The process of the guy getting back his wife is not gripping and it loses steam many a time. The chemistry between the lead actors is cracking in certain scenes when they are together as a pair. In that sense, it's an ideal date movie or Valentine movie or whatever.

VERDICT: Drags to the finish line. Could have been more crisp. Can give this a skip.