"Jackass: Best and Last" brings back the Jackass crew for one last outing, compiling new outrageous stunts and their classic bits. Do we need another "Jackass" movie after all this time? Apparently, yes.
Whether you agree or not, the Jackass crew has been instrumental in shaping 21st century comedy more than any other comedians.
Plenty of YouTube and TikTok creators who have been pulling pranks and dangerous stunts for the online crowd can be traced back to the antics of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and company, whose "Jackass" show on MTV became a literal underground hit – mostly because young audiences like myself secretly watched them away from our parents.
That's because the kind of stunts they perform ranges from dangerously silly to lethal. I remember watching a copy of "Jackass: The Movie" with my uncle and being asked to step out after an alligator bit Johnny Knoxville on his teat.
Beyond the foolishness, what sets Jackass apart from their contemporaries, including those who came after, is their unapologetic nature. They're childish at heart, and you can tell they are proud of being so.
Of course, you don't get this kind of reflection while watching Steve-O and his friends play a Twister game after chugging a bottle of laxatives, but when you look back on their stupidity, it's apparent that there's really nothing like them.
"Jackass: Best and Last" is touted as the last "Jackass" movie. I think it's time to end this thing. They should've done this ten years ago when they were healthier, but seeing Knoxville and his crew look physically older with wrinkles, grey hair and all is kind of astonishing. In fact, this might be the scariest collection of stunts they've done because they are in a riskier condition.
There is a terrifying stunt in "Best and Last" where Knoxville intentionally lures a bull to hit him. The bull got him badly, but he thought it didn't look impactful on video. So, Knoxville being Knoxville, he went for a second take where the hit was even worse, and he had to be rushed to hospital. The rest of the crew got worried, but their fear slowly turned into admiration.
"Jackass: Best and Last" is essentially a mix of new stunts and their classic bits. This was a surprise because most of the things that are in this movie are things we've already seen before. I would prefer if they leaned towards new things, but for someone who is experiencing Jackass for the first time, this is the film to start with.
The film culminates with the group recreating their iconic stunt of standing inside an accelerating grocery cart, bracing for a risky impact while a cover of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" plays. It's a grander stunt this time, with big Hollywood explosives, and instead of being in a street, they're headed towards a cliff. It's a sweet send-off that reeks of absurdity. Thank you for the good memories, Jackass.
"Jackass: Best and Last" gets ★★★☆☆.
“Jackass: Best and Last” is now showing in New Zealand cinemas.
Featured images from Paramount Pictures.
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