MTV’s Jackass has always been one of those marmite franchises. You either love it, or loathe it. With that in mind, it’s difficult to review any of the films in the series because your mileage will vary considerably, depending on what side of the fence you’re on. Either you can’t get enough of Johnny Knoxville and his buddies injuring themselves and each other for 90 minutes with plenty of dick and fart gags thrown in, or you can’t think of anything worse.
For fans of the series, Jackass Forever delivers more of the same as what has come before. Just a small taste of what is on offer here includes Dave England being covered in pig semen, Preston Lacy’s testicles being used as a punching bag, and Steve-O’s penis being used as a beehive, and if that sounds like your idea of entertaining viewing then you’re going to have a blast. The film’s kaiju-inspired opening sees a giant green monster invading a miniature city, before we learn that the monster is Chris Pontius’ painted penis.
Despite the gang getting old, the humour here is easily the most childish it has ever been – and it does become increasingly cringe-inducing and tiresome as the film goes on, especially for viewers who have never seen the funny side of the group’s antics and sense of humour. But this is not a film out to convert any new fans into its camp; rather, this is a love letter to the series and the fans. Jackass Forever is exactly what it says on the tin, and knows exactly what its audience wants. And at the end of the day, whether the film evokes laughter or disgust from its divided audience, at least it is eliciting a response – and isn’t that what art is all about? Yes, I’m referring to Jackass as art…
It’s hard to fault the bravery – or indeed sheer stupidity – of the cast here, as they embark on among their most dangerous endeavours yet. And there is something oddly comforting in the nostalgia of seeing the group having not changed one bit since we saw them starting out over twenty years ago. It’s nice to know that growing up is optional. We can all learn a lot from that – but remember, don’t try those stunts at home…
The home release includes oodles of unseen bonus stunts, which will certainly tide fans over until the May release of Jackass 4.5, the traditional bonus film following 2.5 and 3.5 made up of behind-the-scenes, unused footage, outtakes and interviews.
Jackass Forever is everything you expect. Fans will be delighted.