Picture the scene; a slow-motion wide shot on a city street. Gradually emerging into frame is an out-of-control vehicle. Its passengers desperately cling to it as explosions send debris hurtling towards them. A hit forces some to relinquish their grip and get a face full of asphalt. The others simply wait, resigned to the fact some sort of crunching impact is the only thing that will stop this wild ride. This could almost be a white-knuckle moment from the latest Hollywood blockbuster, were it not for the fact that the vehicle is a giant shopping trolley and its crazy cargo the cast of Jackass: The Movie – gleefully smashing each other over the head and relishing every second.This just about sets us up for what is in store in the rest of the film – Johnny Knoxville (the sado-masochistic host), Bam Margera (professional skateboarder and ultimate problem child), Steve-O (clown school graduate and volunteer for the most dangerous and painful scenes) and their band of hedonistic homies performing ingeniously moronic stunts and gross-out gags. No plot and no real point but just a bigger budget and uncut version of the popular MTV show.
Stunts in the film include: a tight rope walk over an alligator pit with a piece of raw chicken dangling from Steve-O's pants, testing bullet-proof vests, trampolining into a ceiling fan, human ten-pin bowling and off-road tattooing. So this could be viewed as a new low for entertainment and a landmark of deprivation for the movie industry (especially considering the box office returns for Jackass far outweigh those of producer/writer Spike Jonze's other acclaimed project, Adaptation). But this is reality slapstick for the 21st century, where the pain is genuine and the stunts (though they claim to be performed by professionals) are life-threateningly dangerous.
The slapstick of the early silent cinema companies, such as Keystone Studios, was a classic example of physical pain getting the laughs. Pie fights, car crashes,and chases, all performed by amateurs, were incredibly popular. Similarly, falling down manholes, standing under a precariously placed pot of paint, and all the other staged 'accidents' in the Laurel and Hardy films are based on the fundamentally comic appeal of seeing someone hurt themselves in the name of the movies. Why do you think clowns started doing the old 'slip on a banana skin' routine in the first place? With Jackass, the custard pie in the face may have been replaced by the more original bowling ball in the nuts, but the effect is much the same.
You can also hardly accuse it of being a by-product of the MTV generation. The channel originally condensed varying styles of music into easily digestible bite-sized videos, interspersed with programmes like the ironically titled Real World – which tested the staying power of teenagers forced to live with each other (and, of course, with the substantial film crew required to make the programme). On the other hand, the do-it-yourself improvisation of Jackass only took a lot of imagination, bravery and a video camera. The predictability of MTV's format was blown apart by a cheap, homemade series that was deliberately inclusive of its audience (read: teenage boys) through a riot of insane stunts that could be performed by any idiot with the guts to do them.
Let's take a step back here. Jackass: the Movie is no cinematic triumph, given its frequent slips into self-indulgence and its total disregard for narrative structure, taste and technical integrity. In fact some of the stunts become difficult to watch when blown up on the big screen – especially the more faecal ones. Essentially this is a childish ensemble of gags, pieced together by a group of men stuck in adolescence who never got over the comic nature of poop. Steve-O gets a tattoo of himself smiling with thumbs up, saying 'Yeah dude, I rock' which spans his entire back, just because it made his friends laugh. Meanwhile, other members of the crew hide in the bushes of a golf course, firing off an air-horn just as posh American WASPy types were about to tee off. These guys may be childish, and they might be morons, but you can't help but be entertained.
Reviewed by Paul Clarke
Reader comments about Jackass: The Movie
ashlee (Email address withheld) writes:
I thought jackass: the movie was hilarious and an extremely refreshing break from all the other 'comedies' around at the moment. I was a religious watcher of the MTV show and don't think i've ever laughed as much in my life!!! I agree that some of the toilet humour could have been left out and replaced with more stunts, but other than that, i can't fault it! Whether you enjoyed it is a matter of opinion, you either have a sense of humour, or you don't! (thats my opinion)
Cayley (Email address withheld) writes:
im only 12 but im a MASSIVE fan of jackass! I think it is totally wack and when Im older I wanna be in a Jackass team! I REALLY REALLY want to see the movie but obviously im under age. I also want 2 know when it will come out on video in the UK. i will defenetly buy it!
Chillie Palmer (kjoshi@madmail.com) writes:
Jackass is totally a outrageous film i have ever seen with a gorgoeou host- Johnny Knoxville. if johnny knoxville had a better stylist he would totally rock the hollywood industry. take that tip mate!
Scott P (Email address withheld) writes:
After watching Jackass the Movie I was unable to hold a straight face for days afterwards. The sight of Tony Hawk and Mat Hoffman in fat suits, Wee Man in a big cone, Johny Knoxville and co. using Airhorns on a golf course and of course Son of Jackass. Those that say this is stupid are right, but its still funny
Sarah Quinn (Email address withheld) writes:
According to this 15 year old, Jackass: The Movie is the absolute best movie of all time. There is no other movie that is better than that. Note to mention the gorgeous host. You guys keep up the work. I will always be a fan!!!
Tara (Email address withheld) writes:
i think the movie was hilarious it was funny. i think that if people dont like it thats thier oppinion but hey its just entertainment. but if you read what all the jackass actors put on their websites you would know that they do it for the fans and to give people something to turn their heads for.
Gemma (Email address withheld) writes:
In my opinion Jackass is the best film in the world. I´m a fan from Spain. In Spain doesn´t see much you and for that reason I am upset. No to be spoken the English very well, sorry. All the jackass actors are very handsome but coverall Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O.Your fan number 1. Gemma. Spain.
nicola downs (purpleflower7772000@yahoo.com) writes:
The movie was great. i like the bit when bam sets fireworks in his mum and dad room. party boy dancing around in japan. i like it all and the specail. features as well. i love it and i could watch it every day as well.i like bam,johnny,party boy and steveo they are the funnist. when steveo done that bit with the crocdile i throught that was funny as well
Sarah (sariobarnano@msn.com) writes:
That movie was the best ! Party boy , Knoxville and Bam are the hottest guys in the world !! They did such a good job on the movie it should win an award , haha !!! I can't wait until they put out another movie . The blow horn was so funny , how random !!
steven (Email address withheld) writes:
jackass the movie is an absolutely hillarious movie! did you like the tv programme? If so prepare to pee yourself laughing at the sick, weird and offensive stunts played by the great johnny knoxville and steve-o. A must must see. It will turn non-Jackass lovers into jackass lovers. Im thirteen so i had to wait for months to see this, and i aint disappointed! How sore would the firework up yer bum be??????
G.V.W (Email address withheld) writes:
I think that Jackass is so funny, although there is a few particular bits I don't like. (All the bits where Johnny Knoxville gets hurt.) He's to cute to get hurt, he would'nt like to disfigure his face would he? Anyways I think it's a great film, it was truely No1 on my list.
lewis (Email address withheld) writes:
funny but shit compared to hagard and cky. wild boys is good two have you sin punked on mtv thursdays late
josie (beach_g@hotmail.com) writes:
i love jackass soo much especially party boy you rock my world... you are soo funny how u act and strip me and my friends adore you so much love ya right back !!! thanks
carmen (bam_avril_rocks@yahoo.com) writes:
I thought jackass: the movie was hilarious and an extremely refreshing break from all the other 'comedies' around at the moment. That movie was the best ! Party boy , Knoxville and Bam are the hottest guys in the world !! They did such a good job on the movie it should win an award , haha !!! I can't wait until they put out another movie . The blow horn was so funny , how random !!
and i love Bam margera he is sooooooo hot and johnny but Bam is the hottest of all.
libby (Email address withheld) writes:
i thought Jackass was totally hilarious. it is the funniest thing i have ever seen. also havin the two sexiest men in history star in it, Bam and Johnny makes it even better. im planning to start up my own jackass team called "Dumbass".Jackass totally rocks!
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