JACKASS 3D (REVIEW)
Rated MA - 94 minutes
Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve O, Wee-Man, Sean William Scott,
Spike Jonze.
The fact that a pair of misfit cartoon characters, Beavis
& Butthead, introduce this out of control movie is an early indication
to prepare for the unexpected, but not in a good way. Originally an
MTV experiment, the lowbrow group of death-defying boys known as 'Jackass'
are back in their third big screen escapade.
Led by the charismatic Johnny Knoxville, who is about
to turn forty and certainly should know better, their lowbrow antics
never cease to amaze and go way beyond the limits of bad taste. No groin
is safe, bones are broken and bladders are ruptured. It seems like a
fairly ordinary ongoing circumstance when it comes to these guys, who
think nothing of participating in a variety of incredibly stupid and
dangerous activities for a laugh. Some of the shenanigans are clever,
even if minimal intelligence is required.
Various pranks include a massive high five foam hand which
smacks people off their feet in an office hallway, a tooth being pulled
by a speeding Lamborghini and Knoxville himself being flung into the
air by a raging buffalo. With the in vogue 3D effects being put to over
the top use, the mega combo popcorn box you purchased at the candy bar
may double as a sick bucket.
The opening scenes are some of the best with slow motion
capturing brilliant reactions that would be missed by the naked eye.
Whether it be a cold wet fish being slapped in the face or a human paintball
target flying through the air, it's a carefree circus of extreme thrill-seeking.
Bodily fluids flow, squirt and spray, while anatomy flops buoyantly
all over the place, literally leaving a bad taste in the viewer's mouth.
However, 'Jackass 3D' will be constantly funny if you
have no morals or your inhibitions were left at the cinema door. The
undignified events come to an all time disturbance in the final stanza,
a no holds barred scene involving a porta-loo reverse bungee jump that
is sure to send the unsuspecting audience squirming. My favourite moment
involved the vertically challenged Wee-Man in a bar room brawl, complete
with bemused barfly's and a stunned publican.
Rest assured most of the adolescent behaviour is beyond
me, but Johnny Knoxville does possess exceptional screen presence. If
you're a fan of the hi-jinks of 'Jackass' over the last decade, this
is a must see film.
Shane A. Bassett
