Why Jonah Hill Is Funny In The Movie 21 Jump Street

The movie 21 Jump Street is an updated version of the television series by the same name that aired in 1987. The movie is F-u-n-n-y, with a capital "F". Speaking of "F", there is more than a few mentions of the swear word that begins with the same letter.

If you don't mind a bit of swearing, and you enjoy more than a few laughs during a film, you are likely to enjoy 21 Jump Street. Jonah Hill co-stars with Channing Tatum as two police officers who go undercover to investigate a drug ring at a high school.

Hill is perfect for the role for several funny reasons.

Jonah Hill as a police officer?

The thought alone, before I had even seen the movie, had me laughing. Hill became well known when he was cast for his first starring role in 2007's Superbad. In that movie, Hill played a high school senior who made multiple flubs as an awkward teenager.

Now, here is Hill as a police officer. Did I mention that he is short and slightly overweight? Not the stereotypical vision of a police officer. While Hill has recently lost weight, he does not have the sleek physique of many other leading men.

Pair him beside muscular, lean Channing Tatum and the laughs double. While Tatum is more believable as an officer given his large frame, Tatum makes Hill look extremely out of place beside him. Hill is considerably shorter and his physique is not quite up to Tatum standards. The visual differences are hilarious to watch from a seat in the movie theatre.

Next, add in Hill's character Schmidt's fear of actually shooting a gun and the laughs again are sizeable.

An officer who is scared to use a gun creates some creative situations. At one point Hill's character even throws the gun at the head of a criminal to try to stop him, rather than having to fire a bullet himself.

Jonah Hill is also funny to watch because he is relatable. While he does not have the suave looks of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, or even Channing Tatum, he does have his own sense of charm. He is genuine in attitude.

Viewers will find themselves routing for him to succeed in the movie as they route for the under-dog.

Jonah Hill is also funny in 21 Jump Street likely because of his large role in the film. Aside from being a key part of the cast, Hill also helped write the screenplay. He co-wrote the script with Michael Bacall. The writing duo began working on the screenplay five years before the movie was released on March 16.

Given the amount of time invested in the movie, and his familiarity with the lines, Jonah Hill has good reason to be funny in the movie. He likely wants to get the most return for his hard work and for his dedication to the project. As well, he connects with the lines that he helped tweak for his character Schmidt.

If you need a break from your day, my recommendation is for 21 Jump Street. The movie is easy to follow, with a straight-forward plot that won't give you a headache trying to follow along. You will find yourself laughing and having a good time as Jonah Hill presents awkward-on-purpose dialogue throughout the scenes.

Sit back and enjoy yourself. Enjoy the laughs with Jonah Hill.