Jackass: The Movie

Strictly for shallow-end-of-the-gene-pool types who find professional wrestling and monster truck shows too sophisticated, Jackass: The Movie is exactly like Jackass the stupid-stunts-and-practical-jokes MTV show, except that the swear words aren't bleeped out. Sure it's funny from time to time watching Johnny Knoxville and his low-watt drinking buddies performing tailgate-surfing-caliber dares on low-grade home video, but at least half the movie consists of contemptible practical jokes played on unsuspecting innocents--wearing old-age makeup while crashing wheelchairs in busy intersections, for example, or taking a dump in a display toilet at a hardware store. The fact that these dimwits (and their built-in audience) find it amusing to be cruel to strangers and broadcast the acts for public consumption provides a real Decline-of-Western-Civilization element to the picture, but I can't imagine why anybody old enough to watch this R-rated movie would actually be interested in seeing it. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentaries (one by director Jeff Tremaine, cinematographer Dimitry Elyashkevich, and costar Johnny Knoxville; the other by cast members Ehren McGhehey, Jason “Wee Man” Acuna, Stephen Gilchrist Glover, Brendan Margera, Preston Lacy, Chris Pontius, Dave England, and Ryan Dunn), MTV's 24-minute making-of special, 28 minutes of additional footage, seven minutes of outtakes, the music videos “If You're Gonna Be Dumb” by Roger Alan Wade and “We Want Fun” by Andrew W.K., five minutes of promo spots, photo and poster galleries, cast and crew bios, and a trailer. Bottom line: Loads of extras for Jackass fans; unfortunately, the film kinda sucks.] (R. Blackwelder)