Jackass Forever
Starring Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, Chris Pontius
Directed by Jeff Tremaine
It's an obvious statement that all of the YouTube, TikTok, and other streaming platforms that feature everyday people performing stupid, idiotic stunts were all birthed from one behemoth: "Jackass." Starting in October of 2000 on MTV, Johnny Knoxville and company made long-lasting names for themselves by performing totally dangerous yet hilarious stunts and pranks, and while they always offered the warning to "don't try this at home," it's obvious that people did and continue to do so today. That's the legacy the show has made through its over twenty-years, and while everyone felt that it ended with the 2010 movie "Jackass 3-D," the men proved that age ain't nothing but a number, and maturity is something that doesn't always come with age, as they returned for one last outing with "Jackass Forever." Going into the film I was concerned that with all the outrageous stunts and pranks people perform on a daily basis on social media sites that this film wouldn't hold up, but thankfully I was wrong - instead, "Jackass Forever" rose to become my favorite "Jackass" movie, providing enough nostalgia as well as an absolute laugh-out-loud experience from start to finish.
"Jackass Forever" is a film consisting of several vignettes of the classic "Jackass" crew (including the founder Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Danger Ehren and Preston Lacy with newcomers Sean "Poopies" McInerney, Zach Holmes, Jasper Dolphin, Rachel Wolfson, Eric Manaka, and Compston "Darkshark" Wilson) letting loose and having fun as only they know how - by performing dangerous stunts, outrageous pranks, and copious amounts of male frontal nudity to entertain and please the audience. Redoing classic pranks (such as The Underwater Fart Fire, Front Yard Sale Toilet, and Bull Stunt) and introducing new ones (like Scorpion Botox and Bicycle Backhand), "Jackass Forever" is filled with wall-to-wall laughter that'll have a permanent smile on your face from start to finish, and even after it ends.
The importance of legacy is something that's talked about when you discuss passing the torch to a new generation, leaving a lasting impact that'll echo through eternity - and while it's an important topic, it also leaves room for the aloofness of "Jackass" as well. Many might be too high-brow to think the show had any lasting impact other than providing cheap humor, but you can clearly see the influence the show has had on pop culture for the last twenty years. Much like "Scream" this year introduced the concept of a "requel" (bringing in "legacy" characters to pass the mantle to a new generation), "Jackass Forever" is in a sense a reality "requel" as it features the classic cast of characters physically passing the torch to the new generation who grew up watching the show. Newer member of the team Sean "Poopies" McInerney even said so in the film - "I've been watching 'Jackass' since I was twelve years old, and guess what, we're here!" The reverence that the younger crew has for the OG is evident even as they prank and punk each other at every turn. It's never mean-spirited or nasty, but an offbeat version of love and adoration between both generations that makes it work so well - while other prank shows do it out of spite or mean-spirited nature, there's none of that here: only good natured (if also a bit cringe-worthy) fun.
The "cringe" comes from literal cringing and not how youngins nowadays use the term to describe something that's embarrassing or uncomfortable to watch in a mental sense. The cringe here is real, especially when stunts involving snakes, spiders, and vultures come into play (not to mention the continual literal ball-bashing...yes...literally), but that's what makes the movie (and the show) so much fun - it's a trainwreck, and you can't help but watch. This is Knoxville's bread-and-butter, and what made him and his crew international sensations whose legacies still hold strong today.
In a world where turning thirty is almost like a death sentence and makes you ready for retirement, "Jackass Forever" breaks that mold as well, featuring the classic crew who are considered by some to be well over their expiration dates (Knoxville is 49, Steve-O is 47, Wee Man is 48, Chris 47, Preston 52, Dave 52, and Ehren 45). I still marvel how these men are not just still alive, but fully functioning due to the continual punishment they put to their bodies, but they continue to prove that you're never too old to get friends together and be...well...jackasses together. While the film isn't a Oscar-worthy portrayal of old age and never giving up on your youth, "Jackass Forever" gets its point across perfectly, providing gut-rolling laughter and lighthearted moments to fill the room.
Proving you don't need to teach old dogs new tricks, "Jackass Forever" reunites the iconic cast of characters while introducing a new breed of daring stuntmen to provide a film filled with insane stunts, crazy pranks, and more than enough smiles to go around.
The Score: A+
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