Jackass 3D review

There are two kinds of people in this world. One finds Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew a disgrace to contemporary society, and the other finds their actions hilarious and a perfect way to be instantly entertained.

I consider myself a part of the latter.

And that’s the big issue with Jackass 3D, the latest and possibly final Jackass film in the series. A lineup of juvenile stunts and gags that range from taunting a ram to drinking the collected sweat off of fat man Preston Lacy (a scene guaranteed to make many puke) present themselves in Jackass 3D. Taking Knoxville, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Ryan Dunn and the rest of the crew to newer and more insane heights, Jackass 3D contains no plot; there’s nothing to weigh the film down other than some weak stunts. Thankfully, there are plenty of gems in this one to please every fan of Jackass, and anyone who responds with disdain would do themselves a favor and just ignore this one outright. Apparently you are too mature to watch a guy dance around in roller skates and a pink cardigan while a buffalo attempts to gore him.

As for the 3D, it is clear they used it to its fullest for a few skits, such as when they shoot a dildo at the camera before watching it soar past dioramas of the world’s greatest landmarks, then slamming one of the dudes in the face. It’s hilarious, and while I doubt anyone is going to miss much with the regular 2D version of the film, the audience onslaught of vomit, dog feces, and male genitalia oddly works. Sure, the aforementioned “sweat cocktail” and the volumes of poop will make anyone sick to their stomach, but there is something satisfying about how it’s all happening to them and not us.

Even more, when the guys get to play with a jet engine, launching footballs and tomatoes faster than normal speed, the response is of jealousy knowing that you’ll never be able to do that yourself. Let’s be real, these guys get paid a lot of money to act like idiotic 14-year-old boys, and there’s a certain fulfillment for watching such rampant immaturity.

Of note, many of the tricks and stunts are weaker than in years past, and while the laughter keeps coming, nothing is quite as dangerous as in Jackass and Jackass 2. Maybe it’s because they are all older and fatter, with wives and kids, but the weight of 30 to 40 years of living is clearly holding these guys down, even if only a bit. Hell, even Steve-O, famous for his drunken antics, has been clean and sober for two years. Thankfully, the realities of adulthood hasn’t stopped the creativity of the stunts, such as super gluing Wee-man to Preston, yanking a tooth out of Ehren with a Lamborghini, hitting a tetherball filled with bees, playing baseball with their own man bits, or generally being the jackasses they’ve embodied since their teen years.

Isn’t it crazy that they’ve been doing this for 10 years? That’s the most surprising element of Jackass 3D and the series as a whole. Not only have they been able to perform ridiculous, dangerous and immature antics for a decade, they’ve been able to do it while still being fresh and entertaining. Sure, they might very well represent the end of class and culture, but they certainly know how to bring the end with bang. Quite literally too, as the final scene is probably one of the most satisfying explosions recorded that involves a team of douche bags.

Jackass 3D is nothing but a solidly fun, and harmless with that. There’s nothing out right-malicious about the things that Knoxville and Co. perform, but there is an undeniable swagger and charm to these guys. There is nothing really redeeming or enriching about watching Jackass 3D, but there is a level of fun and camaraderie that is often missing in entertainment. They may be jackasses, but they will be–once and for all–our jackasses. We wouldn’t have it any other way.