I’ll admit straight up that I never watched Jackass back when it originally aired, and had no real interest in it or the movies that followed. From the little I knew about it these guys did things to hurt themselves in over-the-top ways that appealed to many, but just wasn’t something that I personally had any interest in watching. I’m aware as I write this that it likely comes off that I have no sense of humour, or that I was offended by what they were doing and neither is true. Comedy is all over the map in terms of what people enjoy, and I knew that was something I just didn’t really have much interest in seeing at the time.
Yes, I say at the time because all these years later I’ve found myself watching and reviewing Jackass Forever, the latest – and final for some of the veteran Jackasses – installment in the insane stunt film series. What stands out the most to me after having watched it is the comradery that this group of friends share. They care about one another and it’s clear just how much this is true by the laughter they share when performing these stunts. This is a group of people who are putting their bodies on the line for laughs, and there isn’t a moment when anyone is safe on set – yet you can tell that there isn’t anywhere else they’d want to be. Well, most of the time, as some of these stunts are brutal.
So, aside from friendship, I’ll say these guys are crazy! Some of these stunts are just off the wall nuts, and I looked away more than once when it just became too much. And that’s just me watching it! Meanwhile, Jackass vet Ehren McGhehey is literally being punched in the balls by UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou and just taking it. Okay, well, when I say just taking it I mean crumbling to the ground in agony, and yes, as a guy I felt his pain; but I also laughed out loud at the look on his face after it happened.
That was during “The Cup Test,” where the Jackass team tests how well a cup works (which is a throwback stunt for fans who remember it from an episode of the TV show) under crazy circumstances. Those circumstances are the punch by Ngannou, a wicked fast softball pitch by Danielle O’Toole, and a slapshot by P.K. Subban. They’re all painful, yet hilarious to watch – especially due to McGhehey’s reaction after each. Where it went too far for me was when Jackass castmate Dave England did the final test with a pogo stick. The result is bloody and brutal and I knew it was coming, looked away, yet, of course when I looked back to see it was done it was just as McGhehey was showing off his wound to everyone around.
**Shudder**
Yes, it must be said that if you’re not a fan of male nudity then this is a movie to avoid, as there’s plenty of it that’s often followed by some sort of torturous stunt happening to said genitalia. So I guess I could also warn that if you ARE a fan of male nudity, you still may want to avoid the nightmares some of these stunts may cause.
Personally, I found the stunts where they did ridiculous things like putting bees all over Steve-O’s penis so that it could get stung repeatedly not funny. Those were the stunts that kept me away front Jackass from the start, as I just don’t see the humour in it myself. I know there’s a massive audience that loves it, and all the power to you! You’ll love it here some more, but this and zooming in on Steve-O’s butthole in a clear container filled with water to see if they could light a fart on fire underwater just wasn’t entertaining.
Again, that’s just me, and I don’t think my sense of humour is superior to those who do find it funny, nor do I think I’m missing something that’s causing me to miss out on why it’s so funny. If you love it, then you’ll love this film from start to finish and have probably seen every Jackass film so far. If you’re like me, and this is your first, just be prepared that not all stunts may be for you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should avoid this movie altogether.
There’s more to love in Jackass Forever than there is to look away at, and the laughter and love shared by the Jackass crew is one of the main reasons why. My favourite stunt is early on when Johnny Knoxville plays a gameshow host for a game called “The Dum Dum Game,” where the three contestants each stand in front of a contraption that has a sandal attached to it. Knoxville asks each a question, and if they get it wrong then the sandal slaps forward and nails them in the groin. It’s absolutely hilarious, and full of great surprises. It’s so simple, yet effective and is the perfect mix of physical and painful comedy without the risk of serious injury or butthole close-ups.
But there are loads of great spots, and I laughed out loud far more than I turned away from the screen, so I’d say if you’re a first timer like myself, Jackass Forever is probably the best in the series to go with and well worth watching for some solid, absolutely crazy stunt-filled entertainment. They have some throwback clips from previous films, and it’s just clear that the production value on Jackass Forever is a lot higher, and it feels like Knoxville and the crew just nailed it, saving the best for last. As a whole, Jackass Forever feels like a giant, insane gameshow where everyone playing is the loser before the game even begins, and the winners are those of us watching it all hilariously unfold safely in our living rooms.
Blu-ray Video and Audio Review
Jackass Forever is delivered with the 1080p treatment here, and everything pops. Now, usually that’s a good thing, but usually a movie isn’t filled with buttholes and extreme closeups of someone’s balls dressed up like a lizard attacking a city, so take the film’s clarity as both a compliment towards the picture quality and also a warning. Seriously though, everything looks wonderful, vibrant and upbeat, which is exactly how everyone in the movie is reacting throughout (well, at least those watching things happening to others. Not so much for the person participating in the stunt) so it all fits.
On the audio side of things we’ve got a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio that just brings that exact fun nature that the film is going for with the score and soundtrack. The sound effects and dialogue all just work harmoniously, and as a whole it just creates a really solid pacing that sees no stunt really overstay its welcome before we’re onto the next.
Special Features
Here we’ve got 16 deleted stunts that didn’t make the cut, but are here in their entirety for fans to enjoy after the fact. Most I can see why they got cut, as they would’ve slowed the pacing or simply didn’t work; however, there are a couple that are better than the ones used in the film. Toilet Geyser made it into the movie, but this is an extended version with a better group of marks at the yard sale, and Knoxville gets involved as the owner of the house. It’s just great all around and I think should’ve been the version of that stunt chosen for the actual film.
The stunts you’ll get to see range from 2-5 minutes, with most landing somewhere in between, so there’s a lot of bonus fun to be had by those looking for more once the movie is done. We also get to hear from Knoxville and some of the crew about why a stunt may not have made it, but really all that did was make me wish there was a larger behind-the-scenes documentary of the whole process, but I’m sure being one of the first movies to film during the pandemic didn’t help when it came to getting extra material.
The scenes are as follows: Tarantula Bite, Face Your Rear, Dark Shark & The Bear, Fire in the Hole, Broke Zach Mountain, Virtual Reality, Plug and Arrow, The Breakaway, Soccer Ball Surprise, Poopies only Wipes Twice, Fire Extinguisher, Wee Man Throws Zach Under the Bus, Toilet Geyser, Telephone Pole (Susan, Millie, A.D.)
Paramount Pictures Presents Jackass Forever. Directed by: Jeff Tremaine. Concepts by: Eric André, Colton Dunn, Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O. Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Devon Wilson, Sean McInerney, Zach Holmes, Eric Manaka, Rachel Wolfson. Running time: 96 minutes. Rating: 18A. Blu-ray Released: April 19, 2022.
