If you haven’t dived into the latest season of The Agency yet, or if you’re still catching up on the Scream movies available on Paramount+, you might be sidetracked by the lovely weather, or perhaps those options just don’t appeal to you.
This week, I have some movie suggestions that offer a delightful variety. You’ll be treated to two Channing Tatum films—one depicting him as an officer and another showcasing him as a criminal—along with a sharp ensemble drama centered on the financial crisis of 2008.
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22 Jump Street
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum head back to school… again
After the original film in this hilarious buddy cop series arrived on Paramount+ this month, I found myself revisiting its sequel, 22 Jump Street. With an announcement from Sony about the development of 24 Jump Street, humorously tagged “It took so long to make, we had to skip one,” it was the perfect time. This 2014 film follows mismatched officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) as they go undercover at a college to track a new party drug’s distribution.
Being too old for college leads to awkward and humorous moments as they engage in campus life—Jenko forms a bond with a jock, while Schmidt gravitates towards the art scene, straining their partnership. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, known for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, cleverly poke fun at the trend of lazy sequels, culminating in a hilarious end credits scene that plays with movie poster clichés.
Familiar faces return from the first film, including Ice Cube as the furious Captain Dickson, along with Dave Franco and Rob Riggle, enhancing the comedic ensemble. The chemistry between Hill and Tatum is potent, especially during Tatum’s infamous “My name’s Jeff” scene, which has become a popular meme.
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The Big Short
The 2008 mortgage crash and the men who saw it coming
Adam McKay’s 2015 drama, The Big Short, features an impressive ensemble cast—Bale, Gosling, Carell, Pitt, and Strong—who bring to life one of the most complex financial disasters in recent history. The film is based on Michael Lewis’s acclaimed book, which delves into the scandalous mortgage collapse of 2008 and the few who predicted it, choosing to bet against the U.S. housing market.
We follow Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a quirky hedge-fund manager who first identifies the looming financial crisis; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a trader who enters the fray out of anger; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a smug banker who narrates with a cheeky tone; and Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), a retired expert guiding two eager newcomers in making profitable investments.
Throughout the film, McKay employs fourth-wall breaks cleverly, featuring celebrities like Anthony Bourdain and Margot Robbie to simplify complex financial terms for viewers. With five Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Bale and Best Director for McKay, the film won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay—an engaging watch that will leave you intrigued and incensed, earning a solid 89% critics’ score.
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Roofman
You’ll root for Channing Tatum’s lovable thief on the run
Now, on to the second Channing Tatum feature on this week’s lineup, which has received an impressive 87% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re in the mood for something quirky and heartwarming that defies categorization, Roofman is a delightful mix of crime drama, romance, and an uncanny biopic.
Writer-director Derek Cianfrance, known for Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, weaves the unbelievable story of Jeffrey “Roofman” Manchester, an Army veteran who, in the late ’90s, pulled off heists by breaking into McDonald’s through the rooftops and politely asking employees for cash. After escaping prison in 2004, he managed to live unnoticed for months within a Toys “R” Us in Charlotte, North Carolina, subsisting primarily on M&Ms.
Tatum delivers an exceptional performance, portraying Manchester as a genuinely nice person who made poor choices, simply seeking a semblance of a normal life. While secretly keeping an eye on the store’s employees through baby monitors, he develops a relationship with Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), leading to complications as his double life spirals out of control. Dunst infuses warmth into her role as a single mother, while Peter Dinklage hilariously steals scenes as the stern Toys “R” Us manager.
Something for everyone
Transitioning between these films might seem like a wild jump, but that’s precisely what ensures an entertaining week ahead. If my recommendations don’t appeal to you, there are many other lists available for more streaming choices.
