For parents considering letting their teens watch “21 Jump Street,” understanding the movie’s content is crucial. This guide details the levels of violence and gore depicted in the film to help you make an informed decision. “21 Jump Street” is an action comedy, but it contains scenes that may be intense or disturbing for younger viewers.
Gun Violence and Shootouts
The film features frequent and intense gun violence. A significant shootout occurs in a hotel room involving multiple characters, including teenagers and police officers. This scene is characterized by:
- Heavy gunfire: Numerous handguns, rifles, and automatic weapons are used, creating a chaotic and loud environment.
- Graphic injuries: A man is shot in the neck, resulting in a visible bullet wound and a substantial amount of blood. Another man is shot twice in the chest, with blood streaming from the wounds as he collapses and dies.
- Multiple fatalities: In total, six men are killed in this single shootout, with visible blood. One character sustains a severe shoulder wound with significant bleeding.
- Gun whipping: A teenager is struck with a gun, resulting in a bloody nose and lip.
This scene is prolonged and graphic, showcasing the brutal consequences of gun violence.
Graphic Injury and Bodily Harm
Beyond shootouts, “21 Jump Street” presents other instances of graphic violence and injury:
- Groin shot: During an arrest, a police officer shoots a man in the groin. This is depicted with a significant amount of blood as the man falls to his knees, screaming about his penis being shot off. The scene graphically shows the severed penis on the ground, which the man picks up with his teeth as paramedics arrive. This scene is particularly shocking and visually explicit.
- Leg injury: In a chase scene involving motorcycles and cars, a biker is run over by a tanker truck. The scene shows the truck driving over the biker’s legs, with some blood visible. While not overtly graphic, the implication of the injury is disturbing.
- Charred body: A high-speed chase culminates in a chicken truck exploding after a downed biker slides underneath it. The aftermath is shown with a completely charred and dead body visible on the pavement amidst smoke and flames. This image is graphic and unsettling.
These instances of injury and bodily harm contribute to the film’s high level of violent content.
Physical Fights and Combat
“21 Jump Street” also includes scenes of physical fights and combat:
- School party brawls: Fistfights break out at a high school party, resulting in property damage.
- Stabbing: A man is stabbed in the shoulder with a knife, although he initially doesn’t feel it. When the knife is removed, some blood is visible, and vodka is poured on the wound.
- Punch to the face: A man punches a teenager hard in the face, knocking him down and causing a reddened nose.
- Stage fight: Two men engage in a fight on a high school stage during a play, involving physical blows and disruption.
- Pushing: A man pushes a woman into a pile of shoeboxes to stop her from talking.
While some of these fights are played for comedic effect, they still contribute to the overall level of physical aggression in the film.
Drug Use and Its Effects
The movie addresses drug use, specifically a new street drug called HFS:
- Drug overdose and death: The film mentions a teen boy dying from HFS.
- Visual depiction of drug effects: A video shows the boy under the influence of HFS, exhibiting violent and erratic behavior, including pounding objects, kicking, yelling, and jumping on furniture. This scene visually represents the dangerous effects of drug use.
- Imitation and injury: Another teen imitates the drug-induced behavior by kicking a trash can, resulting in pain and injury.
- Undercover drug use: Undercover police officers ingest drugs to maintain their cover, leading to manic and frenzied behavior, hallucinations, and eventual collapse. This comedic sequence still involves drug use as a central plot point.
The portrayal of drug use, even in a comedic context, might be a concern for some parents.
Other Potentially Disturbing Content
Beyond the main categories, other scenes may be concerning:
- Attempted sexual assault: An intoxicated teenage girl attempts to unzip an undercover police officer’s pants in a limousine. While he pushes her away and removes her from the car, the scene involves unwanted sexual advances.
- Vomiting: A police officer vomits on another officer due to stress. In another scene, officers attempt to induce vomiting after swallowing drugs.
- General arguments and aggression: Throughout the film, characters engage in frequent arguments and aggressive behavior with each other.
Conclusion: Parental Guidance Advised
“21 Jump Street,” while an action comedy, contains a significant amount of violence and gore. Scenes of gun violence, graphic injuries, physical fights, and drug use are present throughout the film. While the comedic tone may lessen the impact for some viewers, the depicted violence is still substantial.
For younger or more sensitive teens, the level of violence and gore in “21 Jump Street” may be disturbing. Parental guidance is strongly advised, and parents should consider these content details when deciding if the movie is appropriate for their children. It’s recommended to watch the movie beforehand or seek out additional reviews to make a fully informed decision based on your teen’s maturity level and sensitivity to violent content.
