JACKASS FOREVER Review

After 11 years, the Jackass crew is back for their final crusade.

When it comes to a franchise, most audiences would like for the sequel to perform better than the last installment or be just as entertaining. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen, and even when it doesn’t, the viewer can still have a pleasant experience. Well, if you’re worried that Jackass Forever dropped the ball over 20 years after their original debut, you can put those concerns aside. The reason being is this final chapter in the franchise takes the stakes to unimaginable levels that will please some but repulse others. If this is the last film in the franchise, that’s a blessing because

The majority of the cast is back, and it was a pleasure seeing all the familiar faces from the past. That nostalgic factor kicked in immediately as we’re reintroduced to everyone in the film’s opening credits. Unfortunately, some members couldn’t return, and I wish them well and that Ryan Dunn rests in peace. However, that opening scene was amazing! It is easily one of the better introductions to the film from the previous. It’s also one of the funnier scenes in this film as well. They really pushed the envelope with how far they wanted to take their commentary, ideas, and stunts. If only the entire film possessed the same amount of energy, they might have had a masterpiece floating around in theaters for a few weeks, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.

This is all subjective, but what makes the Jackass parodies, jokes, pranks, and stunts the funniest is when they’re all set up just to film the general public reaction. Anything involving “Grandpa” or just trolling innocent bystanders is always hilarious. One perfect example is one character taking a dump in a toilet inside a home department store and filming customers’ reactions. That’s so bizarre. Imagine seeing that in real life. You wouldn’t know what to think. Or when the team is hiding in the bushes blowing an air horn at golf players while they’re on the range trying to drive the ball home. Filming those reactions are priceless, and there are more examples of this, but that’s when Jackass is the funniest.

Others may like the physical stunts and torture of the cast dishes on each other, which can be funny, but this time they took things a little too far, making the whole experience an uncomfortable watch. The entire crew is obsessed with penises and testicles to the point that it’s frightening. If something happens to that part of the body, there’s absolutely no return, and the crew’s disregard for their own genitals is disturbing. There could have easily been permanent life damage to a number of cast members and their genitals in this film, and they acted as if they were disposable. But, instead, they acted as if something had happened; they could just buy another one at the convenience store as if they were a bag of chips. There’s just no amount of money someone could pay me to go through what these men went through just for a lousy paycheck and internet clout. There must be high levels of self-hate and insecurity that go into this decision-making from their disregard for their own safety and well-being. When cast members sit in the hospital due to injuries from the set, that should set off an alarm to stop, but apparently, they didn’t have enough knowledge to use common sense.

I really wanted to enjoy this movie, but that’s an impossible task with what was crafted together. While some jokes and stunts were funny they were mostly rehashed versions of stuff we’ve seen before. Some physical violence can be funny, but when it’s too much like here it’s detestable. One character was so frightened when he came in contact with a bear it looked as if he would have serious psychological damage. I felt sorry for him, and it was clear he didn’t want to be there anymore. I don’t want to laugh at someone’s pain. I want to share in their enjoyment. But when stunts feel forced just for shock value and attention it’s a sad environment, I’d rather not be a part of.

My Rating : 3/10