Jackass: Best and Last
Rating: 4/5
By: Nathaniel Simpson
For over twenty years now, the Jackass crew, led by the incomparable Johnny Knoxville, has been entertaining and grossing out audiences on the big screen. Starting out on MTV and then moving to the big screen in their first major picture in 2002, the entire crew has been hurting themselves and attempting gross-out stunts that have kept audiences coming back for more and more. Now, with most of the Jackass crew getting up there in age and not being able to attempt many of the high-octane stunts they once were able to, Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine decided it was time to go out with one final bow in the form of Jackass: Best and Last. This "best-of" film highlights numerous moments throughout the franchise, while also showing the audience never-before-seen footage (such as the heart stopping opener where Knoxville does a stunt that could have easily killed him) and new stunts that they show they still have what it takes in this hilarious and incredibly fun conclusion. This movie is a love letter to never growing up and still having fun with your friends.
There is no doubt that even if you don't like the Jackass films, you have to respect the commitment that all these men (and woman) put into this craft. Some may see it as stupid, slapstick comedy, but I would go as far as to say they are practicing modern-day stunt craftsmen, along the lines of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. It's for sure not for everyone, but all of these stunts here require only the bravest and, perhaps, the stupidest. And this is why Jackass has worked so well for over two decades now.
There have been numerous great and hilarious stunts that this group has done throughout the years, and many of them are gloriously put on display throughout this movie. Knoxville and Tremaine wanted to highlight everything they have been through their entire careers, and it was so much fun watching these iconic and radical stunts for one last time on the big screen with a packed audience. While it is enjoyable and as fun as the first time we all watch them, there is something very melancholic about the way the filmmakers present these clips to us. Ryan Dunn is tragically not with us anymore and Bam Margera hasn't spoken to Knoxville in years. While I know it was a trip down memory lane for these guys watching these clips, we can't help but feel a sadness that we won't be getting these stunts and films like this anymore.
At the same time, we are lucky enough to see some of the stunts that never made it into the TV show or movies due to their graphic nature or law-breaking acts. So, when we see them here for the first time and start to learn about the thought process that went behind numerous of these moments, it allows us an insight into the minds of Knoxville and his team, which consists of Steve-O, Jason "Wee-Man" Acuña, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Ehren McGehey, Preston Lacy, Zach "Zachass" Holmes, Rachel Wolfson, Poopies, and Jasper. However, with that being said, a major negative aspect that stood out to me was the editing. There is so much they want to put in this film that sometimes there are random segments out of nowhere and they edit in older footage that simply don't fit in with the tone they were setting at numerous parts. They pay homage to some of the older members of Jackass and then cut away to a random gag that doesn't even feature the member they are remembering or highlighting.
The crew spent six days planning and shooting new material for this film and it perfectly shows how they have not lost steam or the drive to make new content. They present some gnarly and disgusting stunts throughout the film, and it demonstrates how they are still able to put themselves all out on the screen for the audience while still trying to make it where they won't die during these stunts. Whether it is the close-up shots of Pontius' penis when he is trying to do an Olympic challenge or watching Steve-O try to shoot a ping pong ball out of his anus, the Jackass crew may have grown up physically but they are still the young kids at heart that we first saw all those years ago.
I am definitely sad that this is the final Jackass film we will receive, and I would be lying if I said I didn't get choked up towards the end of the picture. But, I am incredibly grateful for these talented stunt men for what they have been able to accomplish all of these years and for all of the laughs they have provided. I have fond memories of watching this group growing up, and seeing them now take their final bow is incredibly emotional moving. I never thought a Jackass film would bring a tear to my eye in an emotional way, but this one left me incredibly moved and appreciative for all of these years of Jackass. Jackass forever.
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