I have stopped being a Jonah Hill fan just after Superbad. He has Michael Cera syndrome for me, so when I heard he was going to be producing a 21 Jump Street film I figured it might not be so bad to see what he does behind the scenes, but he is staring in it as well.
But while everyone is assuming it will be a sloppy stoner comedy, Jonah has repeatedly said this will not be parody.
Collider quotes Hill trying to clear this up:
“[Audiences are] not expecting what it’s going to be. It’s not a parody of the show. I’m not playing Johnny Depp’s character… I’m not saying I’m Johnny Depp. I’m not playing his character. It’s a group of people that go back to high school to deal with a drug problem. To deal with crime in high school. I really love the “Back to the Future” moment of that where it’s getting to relive a certain period of your life… It’s a comedy with really cool action. We’re not doing something serious like ‘Miami Vice.’ But it’s not a parody. It’s a funny movie with a lot of great action and a real story. I’ve been saying that it’s like a John Hughes movie with ‘Bad Boys’ style action.”
So as much as this is an adaptation of the original Fox TV Teen Drama, it sounds like it might be more like a sequel.
It might be interesting to see a film that is an adaptation of the show, but is with new cast and still doing the same job.
And that he is even trying to compare it to a John Hughes film at least tells me he will be playing on those ensemble archetypes that are borderline sterotypical, but still manage to connect with the audience.
I will put aside my discomfort for Hill until we see more. He at least has me intrigued.
