DVD Review: Nitro Circus

DVD Reviews, Reviews

What happens when you try to make a Jackass film without any of the things that make that particular franchise interesting? Nitro Circus, that’s what you get.

Nitro Circus is 90 minutes of stunts and shenanigans from NASCAR driver Travis Pastrana and a group of various “extreme” sports “athletes.” The film is an extension of the MTV show, in 3D during its short theatrical run, and is strictly for fans of the television show.

That’s the film’s main problem: it’s not accessible to anyone new to the television show. It’s entertaining to a certain degree but there’s no attempt to try and introduce the show and its “wacky characters” to us. We’re expected to know everyone and their particular roles without any sort of introduction to it all.

The other problem with the film is that they’re doing all these crazy stunts and such but there’s no joy to it. It’s akin to watching a bunch of frat guys do dumb things because they’re bored; the one thing about Jackass is that there’s a glee to it all that’s missing from Nitro Circus.

There’s an interview with Jackass stalwart Steve-O of little note and a handful of behind the scenes featurettes.

Arc Entertainment presents Nitro Circus: The Movie. Running time: 91 minutes. Rated R. Released: November 13, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.