Hi I’m Daryl Griffin, and welcome
to my review of Jackass Forever!
A decade after the last film (not
counting 2013’s Bad Grandpa) and
twenty-two years after the show first aired on MTV; the boys, minus two and
plus five new members, are back in what has to be the best Jackass sequel to date. Jackass
Forever is a heart-warming, and endearing film about friendship without
going too heavy on the nostalgia and sentiment.
With the original gang nearing,
or over, that big 5-0 mark, do not be fooled in thinking that a few grey hairs
or wrinkles will dampen the scale and extremities of the stunts. Jackass Forever presents us with some of
the most stupid, simple, yet effective gags since the first film. Not relying
so much on the spectacle that Number Two
and 3 seemed to; that isn’t to say
that you’re in for a dull show, far from it, as Forever achieves the appropriate reactions without struggle.
As a fan of Jackass from when the
show first aired, this is the first film I’ve been able to see in the cinema,
and what a treat it was to see so many men get punched/ kicked/ hit in the
genitals on the big screen. Seeing this film was like when I saw the Downton Abbey film; embracing an old
friend; that love, comfort and familiarity was there. (Who would have thought
that Jackass Forever and the Downton Abbey film were the same?
Shocking I know!). Forever may have
that Hollywood budget, and better equipment and tech than the series and first
film, however it is able to retain that small screen feel which I’d argue adds
to the charm and is needed for something like this. The Jackass franchise has never gone above its station... too much.
Speaking of equipment and tech,
the film looks and sounds great. The indoor scenes are as vivid and warm as the
outdoor scenes. Without sounding absolutely ridiculous, I think the Jackass
cinematographers are up there with some of the best. Surely being able to
capture a group of men playing pranks on each other with explosions, vomiting,
deadly animals, copious amounts of pig semen, in perfect framing and detail,
all the while being in the line of fire yourself, has to stand for something?
Since the last film, we’ve witnessed
the rise of Instagram and Tik-Tok, and it would have been very easy for
Knoxville + Co. to ditch the studio and crews for the internet. It’s touching
to see that they have not done that and stuck to their roots. I think this
compliments what I wrote earlier about having that big budget but retaining the
small screen charm.
I write Knoxville + Co., but Jackass Forever is very much “Danger”
Ehren McGehey’s film. It is charming and pleasing to see him go from being at
the bottom of the Jackass food chain, to sort of remaining at the bottom of
that pyramid, but being a lot more appreciated than in previous instalments. Forever has this great sense of involvement,
now whether that’s because of age or contractual agreement, I don’t know. Which
brings me onto the newer members...
We all love Johnny Knoxville,
Steve-O, Wee-Man etc. we are introduced to some newer, and I’m glad to say,
equally lovable members. Poopies (I forget his actual name, but I’m sure it
wouldn’t be as funny or catchy as “Poopies”) stands out as a hybrid of the late
Ryan Dunn and Dave England. Joining him also is Zach Holmes (Preston Lacy Jr.),
Jasper Dolphin (he’s his own personality), Rachel Wolfson and Eric Manaka.
Maybe in keeping with The Three Stooges,
and random '80's TV revivals, this new gang will be named ‘The New Jackass’, or as time takes its toll and Death welcomes the
older members, they’ll “fake Shemp” everyone and carry on with the current
name, like no-one’s the wiser. I digress. Either way, the franchise is in good
hands.
After the last two years, Jackass Forever is the perfect film to
go back to the cinema to see. It’s goofy, it’s eye-wateringly funny, it’s
downright filthy is what it is. It’s the perfect break from reality. I’d also
say that in this age of sequels and reboots, this is the best example I’ve seen
of a franchise comeback after a reasonable hiatus... Everyone better take notes
that is how you do it (Ghostbusters: No
Way Home, I’m looking at you). Forever
ends with a surprisingly poignant montage of past stunts and gags from the
early years contrasted with newer ones that I imagine will make it into Forever.5; I joked when I inquired about
writing this review, that Jackass
wasn’t really art, but upon seeing this film I think I stand corrected. Jackass Forever has been crafted out of
love and a lot of thought has gone into the stunts and narrative (if you can
say a film like this has one). It is obvious just how much Jackass means to everyone involved.
What I very nearly forget to
write was that we the audience have aged too, and the world isn’t the same as
it was ten years ago, let alone twenty. It demonstrates that Jackass can ride
the cultural wave of change with ease. Age has brought a new appreciation
and a degree of maturity to these stupid and gross gags. Or perhaps, I’m
looking too deeply into an exploding toilet.
Interestingly, I saw the trailer
for the 50th Anniversary of The Godfather and it made me wonder if
in another thirty years’ time, we’ll get to the see Jackass The Movie restored in 4K HDR?
Reviewer - Daryl Griffin
on - 12.2.22
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