Let me quantify this review by saying I’ve never seen the original 1980’s show “21 Jump Street,” yet somehow I doubt this will be an issue for anyone who watches the big screen version of the classic show that sees police officers go undercover into high school. The film version is self-aware throughout that it is spinoff of sorts, as writer Michael Bacall has infused his own talents in a unique style to make 21 Jump Street a surprisingly fresh, funny film with a dynamic and hilarious lead duo in Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.

21 Jump Street is a film of unlikely duos; directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord, who previously helmed the animated film Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, prove themselves more than capable of branching out into an R-rated buddy cop comedy. The unlikely duo onscreen, meanwhile, is Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as Schmidt and Jenko, two new police academy graduates who are recruited – after embarrassing themselves on the job by failing to read a suspect his Miranda rights – to enter a rebooted program where young police officers infiltrate area high schools to stop illegal activities.

The program’s stern director, Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), assigns the unlikely duo to Sagan High, where a new synthetic drug is causing local teens to overdose. Their assignment: infiltrate the dealers, find the distributors, and take down the drug ring. Sounds easy enough, but first Schmidt and Jenko must deal with the baggage of their own insecurities in going back to high school, as the two had attended high school together, where Schmidt was one of the nerds that Jenko picked on, but they soon discover things have changed significantly.

Jenko quickly alienates himself as he discovers the new “cool” is much different to what he remembers, as Schmidt becomes the first to become friends with the “cool kids.” They include Eric Molson (Dave Franco) – who clearly has some connection to the drugs – and Molly Tracey (Brie Larson), a potential love interest for Schmidt. Jenko, meanwhile, becomes friendly with the outcasts he meets in science class and – much to everyone’s surprise – forms a friendship with the gang while running afoul of Captain Dickson and Deputy Chief Hardy (Nick Offerman), as well as several teachers, including the very funny gym teacher Mr. Walters (Rob Riggle).

21 Jump Street is an oddly endearing and sweet raunchy comedy, Hill and Tatum have heaps of chemistry and Michael Bacall’s screenplay works around this in a spectacular fashion, as the film rarely lets the raunchy moments ruin a surprisingly sweet buddy comedy storyline and the chemistry of its leads. While certain moments and characters threaten the truly endearing appeal of the film, 21 Jump Street keeps its heart in the right place.

Where the film fails is when it deviates from the formula that clearly works. In it’s attempt to add action set-pieces and moments of drama the film grows tiresome at times, and above-all becomes pointless to the heart of what the film really is. There is no reason here for the film to feature anything more than slapstick comedy, and when the action does try to go that route, it often fails by being more silly and ridiculous than anything else.

Thankfully, there is much more positive than negative here. 21 Jump Street is brisk, witty, and above all fun. Surprisingly, Channing Tatum emerges as a real comedic force as he displays perfect timing and a charm which makes his character instantly likable. While the concept is simply a rehash of an 80’s Johnny Depp show, Tatum and his co-star Jonah Hill bring a new quality to the story which instantly clicks into action, while bringing a surprisingly apt commentary on the social society that is high school.

Grade: B+

Rated: R (for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence.)

21 Jump Street opens nationwide March 16.