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Movie Review: Jackass Forever
Remember that episode of The Simpsons where Homer becomes a judge for a film festival and is bowled over by a short film showing Hans Moleman take a football to the groin? Paramount Pictures has just released a film for those of us who laughed with, not at, Homer.
I laughed harder during Jackass Forever than I have at any movie in a long time. I don’t know how much of an endorsement that is, but it’s the truth. Aside from a few clips on YouTube, this is my entry to the world of Jackass. It’s what I’d expect a Jackass movie to be. Longtime fans will be glad to see the return of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, et al. (Bam Margera, unfortunately, was fired from the production when his alcoholism was deemed a liability, though he appears in one scene). The graying performers are joined by some young bucks, and in a first for the series, a woman, Rachel Wolfson.
The movie has an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. I feel for critics tasked with writing a professional review. The movie defies analysis. There’s no structure or themes. It’s just a series of stunts, competitions, and hidden camera pranks. The sort of thing you relay to a friend amid storms of laughter. “…and then they pour salmon in his lap, hahahaha, and you won’t believe this, haha, they let a bear loose in the room, hahahahaha, and the bear starts sniffing him and he’s freaking out, hahahahahaha…”
The guy in that prank, Danger Ehren, suffers the worst damage. In a segment titled “The Cup Test”, Ehren tests the effectiveness of an athletic cup against the punch of MMA heavyweight Francis Ngannou, a softball pitched by Olympian Danielle O’Toole, and a couple other things I’ll leave as a surprise. Let’s just say it’s a miracle his testicles weren’t pulverized in the last one. As often as you laugh, you’ll recoil in horror. It’s great.
“Danger” Ehren McGhehey tries keeping a tarantula at bay using only his breath.
It’d be futile to continue explaining the movie. That would devolve into a list of stunts you can experience to their fullest without elucidation from me. You may well wonder why I should bother writing a review; anyone not already inclined to see it probably checked out before finishing the first paragraph. I enjoyed the movie immensely and wanted the record to show as much. Also, for those whose curiosity wasn’t squashed at the mention of pulverized testes, I urge you to see this in theaters. It’s nice seeing a crowd enjoying themselves. And you’ll find comfort being among so many people. It’s hard to be embarrassed laughing at this when so many others are too.
Published in Entertainment
A tidbit I didn’t know where to fit into the review: one of the producers is Academy Award-winning writer-director Spike Jonze. Apparently he’s been involved with Jackass since its beginnings on MTV.
What can I say? I was bored.
So, the PIT on steroids?
I loved Jackass on MTV back in the day.
Similarly, I didn’t know much about them before seeing the first movie. The most I knew was a sketch on Mad TV, “Kenny Roger’s Jackass”. “Nobody wins at the dairy challenge.”
Strangely, the most I recoiled at while watching the first movie was when the boys were giving each other paper cuts in their toe webbing in a hotel room. For whatever reason, I felt the most sympathy pain with that bit.
Well, I wouldn’t go that far.
You’re not the first person I’ve heard say that. It does sound awful.
I’ve forgotten that. I remember Party Boy used to crack me up.
I should add, I also spotted Samhain and Yob t-shirts, though I’m less familiar with those bands so can’t say how well that reflects on their musical taste.
On crack, then.
There’s no structure or themes. It’s just a series of stunts, competitions, and hidden camera pranks. The sort of thing you relay to a friend amid storms of laughter.
This accurately describes my entire tenure on Ricochet. #squadgoals
I’ve been meaning to see Cabin Boy.
I’d be curious which one is more awkward:
Marge’s stop-motion face will always be a highlight of that movie.