It’s been 20 years. If you don’t know what to expect from Jackass at this point, then I don’t know what to tell you. It is what it is and you either like it or you don’t. It really just comes down to how much you like it. Like many fans I’m sure, Jackass has been very hit or miss with me. Some stunts and skits are phenomenal and hysterical, others are disgusting and are things I wish I could erase from my memory. So where does Jackass Forever fit into to all that?
Any form of art is already subjective, with comedy being more so than most. And Jackass takes that to an extreme. If you already don’t like Jackass, neither Jackass Forever nor this review will do anything to change your mind. If anything, it will likely only further solidify your opinion. Jackass Forever is what Jackass has always been. A group of friends getting together to act like complete idiots for their and our amusement. And it’s a formula that still works, even with so many stunts that are similar to, or complete recreations, of others they’ve already done. With such a familiarity, how does it set itself apart? Well, the answer is easy. Director Jeff Tremaine allows that friendship and camaraderie shine through (and a steady dose of nut shots always helps).
While the cast and crew has undergone some changes over the years, there are still plenty of familiar faces. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Danger Erhen, and Preston Lacy all return. And they have the same youthful exuberance as they did on Day 1. And this is where I think Jackass Forever missed an opportunity to take the series to the next level. How have they changed in the last 20 years? What do the original guys think of “passing the torch,” if you will to the next generation? They touch on these points a handful of times throughout the movie, and it gives it a small but surprisingly effective emotional bent that I don’t remember Jackass ever having before, either in the show or previous movies.
Steve-O especially has gone on quite the journey over the last two decades. He’ll soon be celebrating his 14th year of sobriety. Getting some thoughts from him and the rest of the gang on that would be super interesting. Jackass Forever wouldn’t need to go full documentary style either. Fans come for the stunts and the danger, and you don’t want to lose that. But I’m talking a minimal change. It’s only 96 minutes, so there was definitely some room to work here. Take out a few minutes of the overly long opening sequence, and add in a few more minutes mixed in throughout the movie, and boom. You’ve got maybe a solid 10-15 minutes of some quick-hit interviews or talking heads.
But as always, it’s all about the stunts. So how do those stack up? Overall they’re as painful and ridiculous and idiotic and disgusting as they’ve ever been. Thankfully, this time around featured less of I’ve always disliked most about Jackass: the pranks on unsuspecting strangers and the gross stunts. There’s still some; it is still Jackass, after all. But mercifully, the focus was elsewhere. There’s a recreation of the Cup Test, there’s no Party Boy (I can’t stand how uncomfortable those moments make me), and the new additions to the cast give a new, fresh feeling to the two decades old franchise.
I was honestly surprised how much I enjoyed Jackass Forever. But Knoxville and the gang found the perfect mix of stunts for what I’m interested in. Add in the unexpected emotional connection showcased built through years of physically and mentally punishing each other, and you’ve got a surprise hit on your hands.
Score: 75/100
