In 1998, a young Johnny Knoxville–then going by his real name P.J. Clapp–made a wildly dangerous pitch to skating magazine Big Brother, testing self-defence tools on himself, most notably shooting himself with a .38 calibre pistol while wearing a bulletproof vest stuffed with porno magazines. Then-editor Jeff Tremaine would suggest he film it. It’s fitting that nearly 30 years later, the final Jackass movie, dubbed Jackass: Best and Last, would begin with that infamous filmed test. It’s what would soon become the genesis for what would become a cultural institution in stupidity.
As the title exclaims, Jackass: Best and Last is a 50/50 mix of greatest-hits moments from the TV series and the four main films, never-before-seen footage from those moments, as well as a final array of new stunts the gang filmed just a few months ago. The entire Jackass gang is back, including nearly all the new members from Jackass Forever. The selection of old clips runs through absolute classics like the golf course airhorn prank from the original movie, Knoxville’s giant rocket launch from Number Two and even Brad Pitt’s fake kidnapping from the TV series. It was nice to finally see Bam Margera’s version of Forever’s Silence of the Lambs bit, which he filmed prior to his firing.
They even showed two clips that were removed from the show, one being because it was potentially able to be imitated by young viewers. To that degree, the heavy focus on old footage does make the movie feel more like Jackass 4.75 at points. It’s partially understandable considering the original crew are all in their mid-50s and can’t take some of the heavier hits they used to. It’s most apparent with Knoxville, who can’t risk another concussion again after the bull stunt in Forever left massive injuries. It’s just disappointing because the focus on old footage means some of the new members like Rachel Wolfson, Jasper and his father Dark Shark get less screentime than they should.
That’s not to say the rest of the old crew can’t still hang in their advanced age. Even if you can tell they filmed it all within about a week, the new material is mostly pretty great. Poopies has a great bit where he has to cross a balance beam while enduring a shock collar wrapped around his junk. The Marionettes, arguably the funniest of the new bits, has Dave England, Wee Man and Ehren Mcghehey wrapped in puppet-like strings and randomly tortured with tasers and random fruit.
“Jackass: Best and Last wasn’t going to be the best of the series, but it’s a fitting send-off for an all-time great comedy franchise.”
Steve-O, in particular, states that he wanted to be the MVP of the movie, which he certainly earns with his new contributions. A great bit involves him getting a prostate exam from a robot they named Larry, hilariously voiced by Adam Ray. It’s made even funnier when followed by an unearthed clip of him turning down the toy car butt x-ray from the first movie, which would be then performed by the late Ryan Dunn.
Also, The Human Pretzel, where Steve-O and two other crew members play Twister after consuming extra-powerful laxatives and wearing plastic pants, might be one of the most disgusting stunts they’ve ever pulled. (Combined with the reuse of Jackass 3D’s Poo Cocktail Supreme clip, this might be the most poop-heavy film in the franchise.)
Even with all the poop, penis and pain on screen, there’s a wistfulness to Jackass: Best and Last being the end of an era. All the other Jackass films were filmed with the intent that they would each be the last ones, but Jackass: Best and Last truly hammers down the sense of finality more than any other. There are instances where both Knoxville and Poopies nearly burst into tears when confronted with that reality. Even during the credits, Preston Lacy makes a tearful aside stating how much he misses Dunn. Of course, the sentimentality isn’t for too long, as there’s always a joke not too far away from Chris Pontius, but the emotions are very real.
By nature of it being half a clip-show, Jackass: Best and Last wasn’t going to be the best of the series, but it’s a fitting send-off for an all-time great comedy franchise. It’s a reminder that no matter their age, there are few things better than being in a theatre laughing and wincing at these guys putting themselves through hell for their own amusement. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
