Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined

jackass the movie

Starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O

Directed…

jackass the movie

Starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O

Directed by Jeff Tremaine

Humanity is not prepared.

Johnny Knoxville’s “jackass the movie” (yes, all lowercase) is the television show taken to troubling extremes. It is utterly depraved.

If you enjoyed the antics of Knoxville and company on MTV, though, you’ll have a blast with the film. If the show wasn’t your thing, you’ll be the woman next to me at the screening whom I thought was going to throw up.

In case you’re not familiar with its pretext, “jackass” is all about watching people get hurt. Knoxville and pals attempt foolish stunts that are guaranteed to cause injury. Watching the injuries happen is, well, funny.

With the film, though, it becomes apparent that they’ve been holding back all this time. Turns out, they’re far more demented than the television show ever let on.

Witness: Knoxville and his friend Steve-O allow harsh paper cuts to be inflicted on all the worst parts of their bodies – the webs between their fingers and toes, the corners of their lips, etc. It’s excruciating to watch, but still classic.

The film opens with a cool stylized sequence in which the whole gang goes for a doomed ride in an oversized shopping cart. Though it’s weird to see filmmaking techniques applied to the “jackass” routine, it’s a fun way to usher the boys onto the big screen.

After that, it’s back to the show’s format – an onslaught of casually filmed stunts and general havoc-wreaking. Since swear words don’t have to be censored as they did on the show, Bam Margera vows to elicit the F word from his mother before the film is over, Chris Pontius terrorizes Japan with his “party boy” routine, and Steve-O, he’s his usual self – a sick bastard. Some segments are hilarious and some fizzle, but it’s always entertaining.

The film also features amusing guest appearances by people such as Tony Hawk and Henry Rollins. The show’s executive producer, Spike Jonze (director of “Being John Malkovich”), even gets in on some of the action.

While many frown upon the concept of “jackass,” it’s tough to argue that this film isn’t funny. Beyond that, the gang’s pursuit of the most entertaining and comedic modes of self-destruction is, in some sick way, inspired.