MOVIE: Jackass
Starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera,
Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Dave England, Ryan Dunn,
Jason "Wee Man" Acuna, Preston Lacy,
Ehren McGhehey
Directed by Jeff Tremaine
MTV/Paramount Films
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes

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Jackass was briefly the number one movie in America. If that isn't a sign of our collective decadence I don't know what is. It makes me feel as old and crusty as Cotton Mather to say that, but this movie deserves it.

I've never seen the TV show, but I'd heard what it was and I should have known better than to go see Jackass The Movie. Worse, I made the mistake of eating dinner before I saw it. Sure I laughed in spots, but after an hour or so I got so grossed out I literally had to leave the theater in order not to lose my dinner. I felt no need to go back inside after my stomach settled.

I could single out particular stunts for condemnation, but I feel it would only encourage these jerks. Oh well, regardless of what I say, the movie did so well we are doomed to seeing more of these antics for years to come. At least there's a Darwinian force at work here for anyone stupid enough to try stunts like this: the more they do it, the more likely they will remove themselves from the gene pool.

The Skinny:
Am I glad I saw the movie? No, and I hope they burn the negatives.

P.S. November 26th, the morning I wrote this review, news came that some kid in Ohio killed himself attempting a Jackass-like stunt. I almost wrote the word "unfortunately" next to "killed" in the last sentence but this was not a matter of luck. The kid chose to try to top the stunts he saw on screen in the movie. He should have known better, so I don't blame Jackass's stars and producers directly. Johnny Knoxville has expressed regret and I'm sure he's tried to warn kids about attempting dangerous tricks, but I can't help wishing that this crap had never been made, even as a joke. Jackass the TV show is already off the air; let's hope this keeps them from making another Jackass Movie.

© 2002 - Rusty Pipes