In a memorable scene towards the end of Jackass: Best and Last, the fifth and “final” movie in the franchise that began in twenty-six years ago, where captain Johnny Knoxville, that silver hair more silver than ever, is reminded that he’s been saying for multiple movies that it was the end. Knoxville really means it this time, though. And for once, we believe him. The entire film is a gross-out swansong to the gang that formed as one of those “you had to be there”, America-shaming reality shows that MTV made a goldmine producing. We’ve watched the crew bond and grow into middle-aged men, forged by nut shots, electric shocks, and blows to the head. And if you’re a fan, this walk down memory lane, a road paved with copious amounts of poop and vomit, will be a bittersweet farewell.
Admittedly, I was not a fan of Jackass when it was on TV. It was one of those shows that friends who watched it loved, but I felt above it all back then. It was the movies that won me over. I remember watching the first two back-to-back during an MTV marathon, then restarting them and watching again. They have had a lasting impact on me, somehow. I guess I really get off on watching morons get launched into the air in Porta-Potties filled with shit.
Jackass: Best and Last is a combination of new material and a clip show of greatest hits. Even better, Knoxville, who really is the guiding ship of this gonzo monstrosity, releases footage of stuff that MTV wouldn’t allow to air, and other stuff that was just rarely shown. Like the 2001 incident where the gang “kidnapped” Brad Pitt right off the street in L.A., while a shocked crowd watched on helplessly. Or when Jackass got banned from filming anywhere in L.A. after Knoxville pretended to be an escaped convict and the cops showed up to arrest him.
To be totally honest, the new stuff, which is pretty tame and amounts to stuff like newbie member Poopies (introduced in Jackass Forever) getting collagen injected in his lips. The newer members just aren’t given opportunity to show much personality. The only exceptions are Poopies and the gargantuan Zach Holmes, whose massive ass you’ll see quite a lot of.
Knoxville and the original crew, which includes Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man (the only one who looks like he hasn’t aged), Preston Lacy, Dave England, and Danger Ehren, mostly serve as talking heads or circus ringleaders. Don’t get it twisted, though. They still take some brutal and humiliating shots, and that includes Knoxville, who gets beat up pretty good by an angry ram. The humor is more age appropriate, as well, with multiple chats about colonoscopies, and Steve-O getting his prostate checked by a wisecracking robot with a clawed hand.
The whole gang gets represented, as well. The late Ryan Dunn, who died in 2011, is shown in some of the best stunts from movies past, including the infamous “toy car up the butt”. Bam Margera, who was fired during the shooting of Jackass Forever, factors in a lot more than I would’ve thought. While they could’ve done longer tributes to them both, I think it actually worked better to make it feel as if they never left, like it’s truly one last ride with the brothers. They might be happy to not be there, actually, as a disgusting game of naked Twister, after downing a super laxative mind you, devolved into showers of watery poop.
We’re reminded of the notorious shot to the head that Knoxvile took by a bull that sent him hurtling into the air. Jackass was effectively over after that. As one member put it, if Knoxville can’t take a head shot, what’s the point of Jackass? So yes, things are definitely safer this time around. None of the fresh material threatens to send anyone to the morgue, and for the Jackass guys, that’s the closest they’re going to get to emotional growth.
Jackass: Best and Last is in theaters now.
