MOVIE REVIEW
“22 JUMP STREET”
“HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2″
by Doug Young
HOW TO WRITE ABOUT 22 SEQUELS
22 Jump Street
Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice
Cube, Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens;
directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Starring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Cate
Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson,
Djimon Hounsou, America Ferrera; directed
by Dean DeBlois
First, well duh, mention that these are in
fact sequels. That’s right, when a movie
becomes a hit, it must be replicated, which
means that the writing about it must be repli-
cated as well.
Second, talk about how it’s the same
(characters, writers, directors, settings,
voices, artists) and yet how it’s somehow
different (new story, evolved characters,
updated challenges).
Third, describe how it’s better or worse
than the previous installments. Is it more
amped up? Does it have more exaggerated
special effects? Does it possess more
knowing swagger or is it bogged down in
insufferable familiarity?
Fourth, does it seem like an effort to
simply milk more money from a franchise, or
does it reflect the artists’ genuine interest in spreading
their wings and flexing their muscle to tell a whole new
story from the same source material?
Fifth, be sure the writing is as stilted,familiar and leaden as the sequels themselves, or, if it’s worthy, as
breathless, exalted and showy.
Sixth, be sure to spend plenty of time ruminating on
whether these sequels should even exist. Was the original
too thin and hackneyed to begin with, or was there
enough backstory, complexity and nuance to keep our interest in revisiting these
characters and setting all over again (and again)?
Seventh, minutely examine the filmic technique to discern
any attempt at some unique flourish. Sequels cry out for
compare-and-contrast essay formats, so go forth and parse.
Eighth, it’s important to mention if viewers need to see
the previous installments or if the sequel can
stand on its own viewing. Readers love to
know if they have to do any more work than
simply walk right in and sit right down.
Ninth, always try to weave in — or
mention as much as possible — the
commentary (and even repeat actual text)
that was written regarding the previous
sequels so as to pad the column or garner
interest in that previous writing and show
how much depth of knowledge one has of
the source material.
Applying these nine rules to these two
films, here’s how this writing could look:
Forget all of these rules and have fun with
these two sequels as they manage to break
the sequel rules. One makes fun of the fact
that it’s a sequel (22 Jump Street is essen-
tially a cinematic parody of sequels by filling
it wall-to-wall with jokes, satire and parodies
of the previous film and the Hollywood
penchant for sequels), and the other tran-
scends the sequel by making it more exciting
and visually stunning with a surprising story
that is more involving (How to Train Your
Dragon 2). If you didn’t see the previous films
these were based on, it’s unlikely you will see
these sequels. But, if you do (even if you
have seen the previous films) you will be
entertained nonetheless. See ‘em again for
the first time!
Oh, and tenth, be sure to be curt. No
need to go on and on and….
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