“This is what Jackass looks like at 50.”
So this film provided me with a unique opportunity, because I was around when the first Jackass movie premiered in theaters, and I remember being blown away by it. It was this edgy and one-of-a-kind type show that showcased a group of mavericks like Johnny Knoxville, Bam Magera, Steve-O, and Chris Pontius. Now over twenty years later, that same group of mavericks are coming together for when they are declaring to be the final installment in this iconic franchise. However, if I’m honest, I figured Jackass Forever was going to be the last installment, but I’m not mad at the gang banding together one more time to state it outright and put a final exclamation point on the series. In regard to my previously mentioned unique opportunity, after I finished Jackass Best and Last, I went ahead and rewatched the original Jackass film. It’d been at least over a decade since I watched it, and I wanted to see how the first and the final film compared to one another. And my verdict was as follows: The first film is better. Even with all the time that passed between the two films, the first one is the clear winner. It was bolder and more original. Honestly, this final installment doesn’t compare.
I know that is a harsh verdict, but its honest. Time is undefeated, and that is shown very clearly in this latest installment. Where the first Jackass was brand-new linear stunts, Jackass Best and Last is a 50/50 hybrid of new stunts and archival footage. So essentially, I duplicated my efforts, as many of the stunts from first film, such as the My Big Red Rocket or the swinging hand are showcased in both films. Additionally, Best and Last is basically a nostalgia tour, as several of the new stunts are pretty much homages to past stunts. Take the Snake Pitt Terror, which I guess technically isn’t a new stunt, but rather a unreleased stunt; but even so, it is reminiscent of a previous stunt from the first film where Bam Margera was trapped in a trailer with what he believed were loose, lethal alligators. I understand the purpose of this film was to be a homage, and while I respect that none of the cast members are spring chickens anymore, it made me miss the first film.
In the first film, it was fast-paced, reckless, and driven by a young crew with seemingly indestructible bodies. The humor was immediate and unfiltered. By comparison, the new stunts are less about surviving massive impacts and more focused on psychological torture (like the return of the “blackout room”) and gross-out gags. And there are plenty of gross gags, and they don’t really translate to the younger generation. My daughter was watching the film with me for the first half, but she eventually turned to me and with none to subtle judgement said, “this is what you used to find funny?” Needless to say, she left the room not to long afterwards, electing not to finish watching. Can’t say I blame her; if I am honest, I’m not the same person I was when this type of slapstick humor was appropriate. Who of us is?
I don’t want to belabor the point, so I’ll just encourage you that when watching this film, treat it like the legacy compilation that is intended to be. For 25 years, this group put their bodies on the line to entertain the masses, and though this film does feel like they are going out with a whimper instead of a bang, I am still immensely grateful for the many years of entertainment that this group provided me with. That said, I thoroughly encourage this being the last one. I know that Hollywood likes to lie in wait and after a few years spin the block and relaunch popular ideas, but given that there is already an installment labeled as “forever” in the franchise, no need for another installment. I think Johnny Knoxville said it best during the press tour: “Stuntmen and milk both have an expiration date, so I feel like it’s time to stop.”
