SXSW is many things to many people. For Jonah Hill star and one of the writers of 21 Jump Street it was the circle being completed. “I was here at SXSW five years ago, in this very hotel with Knocked Up. That’s when I got a call about writing 21 Jump Street,” Hill states.

Hill and Channing Tatum are decked out in police uniforms for their roundtable interview and are still wearing the same garb later that night at the premiere screening at the Paramount Theater. After the film during the audience Q&A Tatum mentions that he always wanted to make a film where another man sticks his fingers in his mouth. Not to be outdone co-star Rob Riggle says he always wanted to make a film where he picks his own dick up off the ground with his mouth. 21 Jump Street the movie is not your father’s 21 Jump Street.

As helmed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord (the duo also directed Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs) 21 Jump Street paints with broad strokes a parody of the whole genre of movies made from television shows. Back at the roundtable Hill jokes about how some people in the target audience don’t even remember the show. “Yes, there are 21 Jump Street diehards. And all 15 of those purists can shut the fuck up.” Sitting next to Hill, Tatum doesn’t talk much instead concentrating on drawing a face on the white linen tablecloth with a hotel branded pencil. In fact it’s quite a good likeness of Tatum, almost like he’s looking into a pond reflecting his image.

When the two directors come into the room, sitting where Hill and Tatum sat, Lord starts drawing another face above the first one. His lines are faster and wider and his drawing has more of a cartoon attitude. Miller notes that directing an animated film and directing a live action film have a lot in common. “It’s about a story that engages an audience.” Miller and Lord welcomed the chance to dive into R-rated territory. Lord adds, “We put the word crapballs in Cloudy to avoid a G rating.” 21 Jump Street opens wide this weekend.

- Michael Bergeron