*** and a half stars - Release date: Oct. 25, 2002
Ryan Dunn asks a simple question: "How did it get in there?"
He gets a simple response from a professional physician: "Maybe you shoved it up your a--."
Simplicity is what "Jackass: The Movie" is all about. Master prankster Johnny Knoxville, with his lackeys Steve-O, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Ryan Dunn, Jason "Wee Man" Acu?+/-a and Preston Lacey, comes to the big screen for the first time with their gross-out antics from the controversial MTV series of the same name.
More of an extension of the show than an actual movie, "Jackass" is a grouping of footage that is too risqu?(c) for television. With all the violence, self-mutilation and excretions, it's surprising that the film barely escaped the "NC-17" rating.
The film starts off on a dramatic note, with the cast riding an oversized shopping cart over a bridge, accompanied by a powerful operatic soundtrack. While knocking each other over the heads, cannons full of debris begin to fire into the cart, pummeling their helpless bodies. After head Jackass Johnny Knoxville issues his infamous battle cry: "Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville, and welcome to Jackass," the cart flips over and the cast flies into an outdoor food market display. This mind-blowing stunt is one of the only brand new scenes filmed exclusively for the movie.
The rest of the film is a compilation of previously shot footage over the years that failed to make it to television for one reason or another. While this sounds disappointing, the beauty is that the footage is arranged so there is a multitude of ongoing gags mixed in with the random scenes of mindlessness. Continuing scenarios such as the "Jaws-" themed razor attack to the head and Bam's plot to make his mother say f--- add a creative flavor to what could have been a bland recipe.
There are a few reputable cameos in "Jackass" that up the film's notability, if only a small notch. Matt Hoffman lends his BMX skills to the mix, as well as Tony Hawk, who dons a fat suit to reveal his skating ability. Toughman/boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch challenges Knoxville to a round of department store boxing, beating him down and giving Knoxville a concussion as well as multiple stitches to the head. And hardcore rocker Henry Rollins takes the Jackass crew on a special "off-road tattoo" disaster.
Besides physical violence, much of the extreme content in "Jackass" falls under the categories of male nudity, defecation and gore. Fireworks are lit from a penis and anus, while a round of bungee wedgie leads to a brown and red mess. The consumption of a yellow snowcone and snorting lines of wasabi induce waves of vomiting. It is amazing how much torture these guys will go through, and fans of the show will be roaring with laughter. Those new to "Jackass" will definitely be disgusted and may even vomit onto those laughing in front of them.
However, there is an unusual emptiness between many of the more gut-wrenching gags. At times, less entertaining scenes are thrown in as filler material so the film can reach the 90-minute mark. Watching Wee Man kick himself in the head is nowhere near as entertaining as seeing half-naked men electro-shocking themselves for fun.
The abundance of male nudity may be a factor for those who have a problem with the simian male body. The boys are constantly half-naked, flaunting their underdeveloped chests and their proud members, especially Chris "Party Boy" Pontius, who rampages the streets of Japan in only a leopard thong. Even Wee Man and fatty Preston Lacey have their bizarre time in the sun.
"Jackass" is definitely the type of film that moviegoers will either love or loathe. For fans of the show, add one and a half stars to the score; for those who hate it, subtract three. Whatever the take on the film, one thing is certain: These are the bravest, not to mention dumbest, men on the face of the earth.
