Shadows on the Wall | Jackass Forever

Jackass Forever

dir Jeff Tremaine
prd Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze, Jeff Tremaine
with Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Jason 'Wee Man' Acuna, Ehren McGhehey, Preston Lacy, Dave England, Rachel Wolfson, Eric Manaka, Zach Holmes, Davon Wilson, Eric Andre, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator
release US/UK 4.Feb.22
22/US Paramount 1h36

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Now firmly middle-aged, this gang of idiots returns a decade later, showing their age. So they leave the more perilous antics to youngsters. These newcomers add subtext that's far more engaging than the continuing obsessions with male genitalia, farts, electrocution and a certain bodily fluid. And it will be interesting to see if this appeals to a new generation of viewers, since it plays like a hellish TikTok compilation.

Knoxville and pals have been doing this for 20 years now, and are happy to have a younger group of daredevil chuckleheads take over flinging themselves from heights without a crashpad. Meanwhile, Pontius and Steve-O are still up for putting their manhood on the line, while Acuna, McGhehey, Lacy and England also throw themselves literally in harm's way. A new female participant, Wolfson proves her mettle opposite an angered scorpion. Others face snakes, spiders, bees and a bear. Knoxville recreates stunts with a giant cannon and a rodeo bull, this time ending up in hospital.

Aside from the ambitiously outrageous opening monster movie and closing military assault sequences, the movie features the usual random and pointless series of staggeringly stupid stunts. The funniest set-piece this time is a black-out room involving a range of mental and physical onslaughts, which works simply because they planned it in so much detail. Most gags feel haphazard, staging pranks then laughing at pain and humiliation. What's astonishing is that they are still coming up with even more insane ways to hurt themselves.

As always, everyone is clearly having a wonderful time, guffawing uproariously at whatever happens. This time, some of that amusement is infectious, simply because the affection between them has grown more pronounced with time. Knoxville and Pontius spend much of the time hovering around the edges egging everyone on, while newbies Manaka, Holmes and Wilson gleefully hurl themselves into the fray, wearing only slightly more clothing than the original crew. And various sportsmen and entertainers join in as well.

Pain is captured in agonising slow motion, which makes some segments difficult to watch. Ehren shows genuine fear when a bear approaches him, tied up and covered in salmon. As does Wee-Man as an enormous buzzard pounces on his near-naked body. Or Steve-O as a queen bee draws her hive to the most unthinkable place on his body. Yes, once again much of the violence is aimed at men's nether regions. Fans will be happy these guys haven't gone high-brow in their dotage.

themes, language, violence, nudity 2.Feb.22

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