A funny thing about "21 Jump Street," the raucous R-rated comedy starring Jonah Hill, which opens in theaters next Friday: Channing Tatum, the supposed muscle opposite Hill's one-liners, completely steals the show. Chan, as his friends call him (we're tight), spoofs his own beefcake-status in the new comedy, while also proving himself to be an adept comedian. (Watch him drop some epic profanity on science in the extended red-band trailer to see his comedic dexterity in action.) It's a star-making turn, which might be perfect timing for Hollywood. After all, with the current crop of leading men -- Tom, Johnny, Leo, Brad, George -- aging into their 40s and 50s, movies are in need of some fresh blood.
"Part of his appeal is old-fashioned movie star charisma -- that 'it factor' that really is a real thing," Amy Pascal, the co-chairwoman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is releasing "Jump Street," told the New York Times. Pascal has become entrenched in the business of Tatum this year: he also starred in the studio's blockbuster rom-com, "The Vow."
"He has now shown that he can hold a gun, kiss a girl and tell a joke. Most actors are lucky if they can believably do one of those," she said.
While actors like Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Shia LaBeouf have difficulty breaking out at the box office beyond the friendly confines of their franchises, the busy Tatum has constantly defied expectations: from "Step Up" to "Dear John" to "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" to "The Vow," he's had his fair share of diverse successes. That malleability is something Tatum knows is important to his brand.
"Taking a break is a problem because audiences today have attention-deficit disorder," he said to the Times. "They forget you quickly or get tired of seeing you do one thing quickly. You've got to be in there swinging all the time."
Or, as CinemaBlend's Katey Rich wrote earlier this year, "He's got a gentle, up-for-anything spirit that seems to translate into all of his films, giving his characters the kind of inherent likability that no actor can fully fake."
"21 Jump Street" premieres at the SXSW Film Festival on Monday, March 12 before hitting theaters on March 16.
PHOTOS: Most Anticipated Movies At SXSW
SXSW 2012 Movie Preview
"Safety Not Guaranteed" (01 of07)
Open Image ModalAfter premiering at Sundance back in January and nabbing a distribution deal from FilmDistrict, "Safety Not Guaranteed" has made its way south. The film -- based on a 2005 Internet meme about a man who placed a classified ad looking for a time-travel companion -- stars Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation") and Jake Johnson ("New Girl") and could be the quirky romance that your hipster friends just need to see when it hits theaters this June.
"Fat Kid Rules the World"(02 of07)
Open Image ModalMatthew Lillard is having a moment. After being the guy who stole George Clooney's wife (!) in "The Descendants," the former Shaggy makes his directorial debut with "Fat Kid Rules the World," a drama about a suicidal overweight teen (Jacob Wysocki) who joins a punk rock band. Fun fact: Pearl Jam's Mike McCready did the music!
"The Cabin in the Woods" (03 of07)
Open Image ModalNormally when a movie sits on the shelf for three years, it's a sure sign of disaster. In the case of "The Cabin in the Woods," however, it was just a matter of bad timing. Shot in 2009, the film was originally set to get released in Feb. of 2010, but MGM delayed its release to Jan. of 2011 before filing for bankruptcy. That was shifted to April 13, 2012 when Lionsgate picked up "Woods" last summer. This all boils down to one thing: now you'll finally get to see one of the best and most inventive horror movies to come out in the last three years. Co-written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard ("Cloverfield") and directed by Goddard, "The Cabin In the Woods" stars Chris Hemsworth and a bunch of fresh-faced youngsters, who travel to the titular residence and come across all kinds of terror. The film will open SXSW on Friday, meaning you can expect your Twitter feed to tell you about its awesomeness pretty much straight through the next week.
"Marley" (04 of07)
Open Image ModalAfter premiering in Berlin back in February, "Marley" -- a documentary, not surprisingly, about Bob Marley (not another heart-wrenching dog flick) -- will have its North American debut at SXSW before it opens in April. Director Kevin MacDonald ("The Last King of Scotland") directs the nearly two-and-a-half hour feature, which focuses on Marley's life and tragic death.
"21 Jump Street" (05 of07)
Open Image ModalIn front of its theatrical debut on March 16, "21 Jump Street" will screen for audiences at SXSW. Which, if things go according to plan -- 20somethings singing the praises of Jonah Hill -- will prove a shrewd business move. Carried by raunchy humor, blistering action and a star-making performance from Channing Tatum, "Jump Street" has the chance to strike the same gold as "Bridesmaids," which screened at SXSW last year.
"Small Apartments" (06 of07)
Open Image ModalAll you need to know about "Small Apartments"? It's crazy cast: Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, Juno Temple, James Marsden, Peter Stormare, David Koechner, Rosie Perez, Dolph Lundgren, with James Caan, and Johnny Knoxville. One, please! (credit:Getty)
"$ellebrity" (07 of07)
Open Image ModalCelebrity photographer Kevin Mazur directs the documentary "$ellebrity," which features stars like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez discussing fame and fortune in the TMZ era. Will the stars be as candid as you want them to be? Here's hoping. (credit:Getty)
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