Monday, July 7, 2014

Cinema Slam: 22 Jump Street vs Mumford & Sons

This weekend was a bit of catch up as we took in two flicks at the theater, Edge of Tomorrow and 22 Jump Street.  It's a bit of a coincidence that we saw 21 Jump Street while attending WonderCon a couple years ago and now we were seeing 22 before heading to Anime Expo.  In one of the first scenes of the film, Jonah Hill's Schmidt dresses up like a Mexican gang banger/vato complete with headband, black shades and a flannel with the top button buttoned up for a meet and greet with some criminal types.  In what has to be one of the funniest lines of the year, Schmidt asks "where'd you find this gringo, man?  The fucking Mumford and Sons concert and shit?" and I about died.  It's not that I don't like Mumford, I just don't get them or this whole wave of music that consists of people strumming away on banjos or whatever the fuck wimpy, folksy sounding non-electric guitars accompanied by warbled vocals.  And they're dubbed a "rock" band, boggles the mind.  I'm no music historian but I think rock n' roll used to be fun and push the envelope a bit with enigmatic lead singers who had the ladies lining up and the guys wanting to be them with their mix of flamboyant confidence and devil may care attitude.  Mumford and Sons music just conjures up an image of a skinny, bearded, vest clad awkward introvert with his flannel sleeves rolled up to show off his tooth pick arms, watch on a thick leather strap while eating lentil soup kind of non-inspirational guy.  At least The Black Keys have some heavy guitar riffs and drum thumping going down even if all of their music sounds the exact same while they talk shit and have their music in advertisements and count their money.

22 Jump Street itself was a fun time at the movies.  Self-reflective and knowing with some decent action and plenty of dumb laughs that isn't just for gross out or shock value.  It will be interesting to see if they go for a 3rd installment.

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