Carl Roberts 
“While not featuring too much in the way of new footage, Jackass: Best And Last is still a blast, literally at times. You’ll cry with laughter while gagging at the grossness!”
Ok, here’s the thing. How do you make a fifth movie of a long-running franchise despite having limited capability to perform the crazy stunts you’ve done over the years? What do you do when there is a lack of any new material, but you want to go out with a bang? The answer is simple. You make a compilation movie, with never-before-seen material, and some newly filmed inserts. Also, you add a few new stunts to the mix. Then you slap the title on it and let it go. That’s exactly the formula Johnny Knoxville and the gang have done with Jackass: Best And Last. It is also the fifth and final (or so they say) movie. In fact, it ends the Jackass franchise. While some people may feel slightly cheated with what’s on offer here, there isn’t any doubt that the gang goes out with a large bang. There are several injuries to boot.
THE PREMISE
Jackass: Best and Last is a compilation of stunts, skits, and pranks, intercut with on-set talking heads with its cast. The movie will be a mix of old and new footage, bringing back the biggest stunts and pranks from the franchise, as well as brand new ones, and never-before-seen footage.
Some of the old bits shown in the film include: “Brad Pitt’s Abduction” from the Jackass TV series; the “High Five”, and “Poo Cocktail Supreme” from Jackass 3D (2010). As well, the “Magic Trick” and “Silence of the Lambs” from Jackass Forever (2022) are included. The “Silence of the Lambs” bit in this film also includes previously unseen footage with Bam Margera.
Some of the new stunts include Steve-O getting a painful prostate exam from a robot named Larry, Poopies getting shocked by a shock collar on his penis while attempting to walk across a balance beam, and an “escape room from hell” that punishes everyone’s bodies.
THOUGHTS
For anyone expecting high art, high emotion, and some charming moments…WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?? You know exactly what you’re going to get with a Jackass movie, and you’d be right. You’ll get grossness, filth, dangerous stunts, and injuries. In addition, it comes with an in-your-face, crazy comedic style that will have you laughing into your hands. You’ll be trying hard not to vomit on your popcorn.
I mean, come on, where else are you going to see a robotic prostate exam with a mechanical finger completely covered in peanut butter? You think that’s gross? You ain’t seen nothing yet! How about a naked Chris Pontius slapping his penis against his legs and belly? There is a sound boom mic just below to get the whole sound. Then, he tries to perform a high jump.
That’s not enough? How about watching someone attempting to tattoo another while their arm is strapped to an electric shock machine, jolting them while attempting to ink the tattoo? Jackass has been criticized over the years for the juvenile and puerile humor they create and brings to the screen. Do they have a point? Possibly. But just watching these stunts and pranks is just too damn funny, cringeworthy, and sickening. It’s almost like we revert to a barbarian mentality. We gain joy and amusement watching others suffer in the name of entertainment. What does that tell you about us as a paying audience? To be honest, who cares? This isn’t designed to be something to ponder over; this is something to be shocked at while laughing like hyenas.
THE JACKASS TEAM
What more needs to be said about the Jackass crew and team that hasn’t been said already? Their devotion to making entertainment of this kind is legendary. However, in this film, we can see what doing these kinds of pranks and stunts has done to their bodies. Suddenly, what used to be hilariously funny has us thinking about the cost of bringing this kind of thing to entertain us. We start to wonder what it has cost them personally.
For example, Johnny Knoxville suffered a broken rib, a broken wrist, a concussion, and a brain hemorrhage while filming the rodeo scene for Jackass Forever. This also forms part of the film. Could we seriously think we would go through that for the sake of this ‘art’? Other cast members also suffered serious injuries over the years. They did it just to entertain us and to see if they could do it.
ARCHIVE AND NEVER BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE
As for the archive footage, it is hilariously funny and quite nauseating at times to remember what the cast got up to. We also get to see footage that has never been seen before. For example, one of the clips featured Knoxville pretending to be an escaped prisoner. He enters a hardware store and asks for a hacksaw for his handcuffs. The resulting footage wasn’t allowed to be shown on TV and led to MTV Productions receiving a ten-year ban from filming at the location. In addition, we also get to see Knoxville filming a stunt where he shoots himself in the chest with a revolver. Knoxville was wearing a Kevlar vest underneath his t-shirt. He also had some magazines stuffed over it for extra insurance. The resulting footage was banned from ever airing, and we can see why. After all, it was an incredibly dangerous stunt to perform.
GOING THROUGH THE WRINGER
Of course, the rest of the team goes through the wringer in their quest to make us all laugh. Poopies has a shock collar attached to his penis. Then, he attempts to cross a balance beam while getting electric shocks. This will certainly bring tears to men’s eyes. The aforementioned Chris Pontius performs a naked high jump. Johnny Knoxville is strapped to an electric chair, and there is the escape room from hell. These moments will revolt us while also having us roar with laughter. With archive footage of Bam Margera and the late Ryan Dunn also included amongst the highlights, it all adds up to something that does exactly what it sets out to do. It repulses, grosses us out, has us wincing, and covering our mouths to stifle the laughter we can’t help.
VERDICT
While not featuring too much in the way of new footage, Jackass: Best And Last is still a blast, literally at times. You’ll cry with laughter while gagging at the grossness! It is something we have come to expect, but with a unique twist of possibly seeing the team in action one final time. While we laugh, we also see that the team can’t continue doing what they’ve accomplished in the past. They’ve suffered in the name of entertainment, harming their bodies and possibly their lives, delivering things that we have enjoyed over the past twenty-six years. To see them in action one more time is great and all, but we start to see the signs of time catching up with them.
A CELEBRATION
At the end of the day, this is a celebration of the series and the movies. It feels like a defining final chapter in the Jackass universe. As such, we treat the film as one of those compilations we constantly see on TV. By taking some of the best stunts and pranks they’ve created, this is a Jackass swansong. It is the thank you and good night. The curtain has fallen on the stunts and pranks, the lights have been turned off, and the Jackass crew has left the building. We must all stand and applaud what they have given us, to show our appreciation for everything they’ve done. There won’t be another encore; this is it. Also, as it explodes into the sunset, we can look back fondly and state quite clearly: “Thanks For The Memories” as it goes out with a literal bang.
Jackass: Best And Last will be in cinemas from this Friday, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
