Disgusting,
vile, gross, infantile, outrageous, over-the-top, twisted, stupid, and without
morals. Yes, all of these terms describe Jackass: the Movie, an extended version
of the popular television show that pushes the envelope like no other flick in
recent memory. So did I like it? I laughed so hard in the first twenty minutes
of this movie, that I simply couldn't laugh anymore. It hurt. Jackass is an exhausting
experience.
Now
before anyone jumps down my throat and attacks my credibility for having enjoyed
such immature hijinx, hear me out. I'm here to say that it's okay. to admit that
you like Jackass and Citizen Kane in the same sentence. Jackass isn't a simple
movie to review. It's not like this picture has a plot or performances to critique.
The main goal of Jackass is to shock, and shock it does.
I'm
not going to tell you about the stunts that are performed here, because it would
spoil the film's shock value. Suffice to say, there are scenes in Jackass that
literally made me turn my head from the screen. And if vomit and fecal matter
make you squeamish, you best stay at home.
I
remember being really angry when Kevin Smith's Clerks was denied an R rating because
of language content. After watching that film, I remember thinking that the language
was naughty but not that bad. By contrast, Jackass offers up stuff so shocking
and repulsive, I'm surprised they got away with the R rating. This is the type
of stuff John Waters was criticized for doing years ago in films like Pink Flamingos.
Of course, this is part of the charm of Jackass, and those familiar with the show,
know what I'm talking about.
If
Jackass proves anything, it's that some people will do anything to become famous.
Hell, no one knew who these guys were five years ago and now they're making tons
of money subjecting themselves to enormous amounts of pain. Knoxville has even
gone on to do work in some pretty high profile movies (see Men in Black 2 and
Big Trouble). Some may find this self torture stupid, while others will find it
absolutely hilarious.
Simply
put, Jackass is a movie made for jackasses. While I'm hardly into harming myself,
watching the over-the-top madness going on in this self torture show, left me
in stitches.
