Nitro Circus: The Movie

Familiar to MTV audiences, this daredevil group of Evel Knievel-wannabe buddies serve up subversively reckless, death-defying stunts. But for non-fans, the adrenaline-fueled jeopardy of these self-indulgent, overgrown children will quickly grow tedious, even with the brief appearances by Jackass co-creator Johnny Knoxville, filmmaker Jeff Tremaine, and actor Channing Tatum. Nitro Circus is an action sport collective led by Travis Pastrana, who is usually the first to attempt stunts involving dirt bikes or BMX bikes. Greg Powell (aka Special Greg) is Pastrana's cousin, a former wide receiver on the University of Maryland football team and the first person to land a Special Flip on a BMX bike. Jim DeChamp is a pro mountain bike downhill racer/freestyle rider who's been friends with Pastrana since childhood (during filming, he suffered a serious back injury but has since recovered). Tommy Passemante (aka Streetbike Tommy) got his nickname from an attempted front-flip on his Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle that overshot the protective foam pit, resulting in his breaking both legs. The roster is rounded out by pro extreme skier/base jumper Erik Roner; Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham, a wheelchair athlete with spina bifida; and Canadian Female Motorcross Champion Jolene Van Vugt. Directed by Gregg Godfrey and Jeremy Rawle, this documentary captures Nitro Circus's Las Vegas show at the MGM Grand and—when American law enforcement tries to restrict their carefree capers—follows their escape to Panama City, where they speed a motorcycle across a hotel pool and leap from the rooftop of one skyscraper to another. Optional, at best. (S. Granger)