film: review

> jackass: the movie (2002)
If you aren't a fan of the show stay far away and hide under your safety blanket

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, and the rest of the nuts!

Directed by: Jeff Tremaine

Written by: Spike Jonze among others

Genre: Comedy

Our Rating: (for the insane) 9 out of 10; (for everyone else): 1/10

jackass: the movie is not really a movie at all. It is the TV show. Only longer, totally uncensored, and on a bigger screen then you have in your living room. It is also an experiment that tests the boundaries of pain and humor. I read that this film had a $5 million budget, which it more than quadrupled its opening weekend in release. I don't know what this money paid for (other than hospital/insurance costs and the beginning and ending effects sequences) and it shows. This was the number one thing that I didn't like about jackass: the movie. Obviously releasing it in the theaters gives them more opportunity to cash-in, but it would have been nice to see some sort of transition from cable airplay to the big screen in terms of quality and production value. But oh well, this collection isn't about reference-quality audio and video anyway, it's about real life, raw, gross-out humor. I also thought some of that gross-out humor crossed the line, but really that's what jackass is about, right? So enough nitpicking, now to the good stuff…

I laughed almost constantly from beginning to end in the theater, and I would say that 90% of the audience was doing the same. The only people who will watch this movie, thankfully, are the ones who know what to expect already. I am a huge fan of the show but I feel sorry for those poor souls who are looking to see what all the noise is about and decide to give jackass a try. If you have a weak stomach this film will make you sick, I have never seen anything so disgusting at the Cineplex or on television (other than those ER operation shows). If you haven't seen the show, do not see the movie. And please, if you are a lazy, shitty parent that doesn't know how to teach your children right from wrong, do not drop your kids off to see this movie, do us all a favor.

I think the only reason why I can handle the things that this group of idiots does is because they do them in a humorous way. That is, if you actually find someone purposely hurting themselves humorous in a sick and twisted way. It reminds me of the days when my friends and I would do really stupid shit just for a laugh. I won't spoil any of the skits and gags here, but if you enjoyed the TV show during its very short run, you will have tears in your eyes from laughing so hard. Kudos for the ending sequence done the way it was. It was the only "film-like" part of this movie and I thought it showed that the jackass crew are capable of doing things other than skit gags. I think they should delve into this further their next time out…

(02-1028)

related links:

jackass: the movie - official site