The title of this review is simply all you need to know. It’s classic Jackass at its core in another sequel that’s bound to get everyone dying of laughter. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the rest of this persevering (and ridiculously daring) cast have put their bodies on the line for the past three decades. They’ve entertained us at every turn with every dangerous stunt they’ve aspired to pull. However, unlike the previous installments, Jackass: Best and Last genuinely feels like it’s really the end. This crew has entertained us for so long, it’s really made us wonder when it’ll all just stop.
Sure, these guys have been through a lot (not even counting how many animals that have rammed them like bowling pins). Yet, watching them replay their greatest hits makes you realize how time can really change things. Of course, it’s been mostly for the better because of how confident they are, in addition to the hilarious post-stunt reactions from everyone. When you watch Knoxville in that electric chair on a hill being asked by Steve-O if this film is really the end, it almost makes you tear up.
That’s because there’s some reflecting done with interviews from Knoxville and Steve-O about the times that felt the most chaotic. Specifically, there’s that one stunt where Knoxville decides to act like an escaped convict, only to lead to an entire incident that got them banned from the streets. Perhaps there’s that other stunt where the crew “kidnaps” Brad Pitt and make it totally believable. Hell, they even poke fun at dropping Knoxville down a whole stairwell while being trapped in a box. Whether it be the big stunts or little ones, it just makes you truly inspired by how dedicated the Jackass crew is.
Of course, for fans who were wondering how many greatest hits this crew can pull off, there are so many. They’re numerous in store, from that “midget bar fight” to the “big rocket” extravaganza that needed two takes to get right. You can simply look them up on YouTube at this point, but just getting to watch it on a big screen (especially as someone whose first theatrical Jackass film turns out to be the end), it’s a little breathtaking. This film’s simply meant to be seen with a packed house because the laughs and cringing instantly multiply.
That said, some of their latest stunts will make you feel so many emotions all at once. That enjoyable factor is slightly elevated because of the addition of newest “member,” Larry the robot (voiced to perfection by Adam Ray). There’s a handful of stunts where Larry’s the star, but you can guess how agonizing the robotic prostate exam is if you’ve already seen the trailer. Aside from Larry, the rest of the stunts are pretty fitting for this balls-crazy finale. Whether that be Poopies getting a wild dose of lip filler to Danger Ehren being lit up on stage with a firecracker strapped to his chest, these new stunts are sure to get a chuckle or two.
Everyone’s certainly in for the painful, balls-destroying stunts, but there’s one that’s truly disgusting. The one that truly made the entire theater uncomfortable saw Steve-O, Dave England, Preston Lacy, and Chris Pontius take a super drinkable laxative and play a truly stinky game of Twister. Given the extremes that the Jackass production team goes to capture everything, you can easily imagine my face when Steve-O begins taking a massive diarrhea down his clear pants-suit. That’s not even the most revolting part: all of it spills out of the suit and onto the mat. Yet, in all his years of witnessing the most wretched stunts, Lance somehow doesn’t throw up. It’s honestly an achievement that he survived that stunt without puking.
At its center, this film essentially feels like that Nickelodeon time capsule that’s buried underneath Universal Studios. It’s a play-by-play of Jackass’s greatest hits on a record that you don’t want to stop. You can simply pick and watch one stunt and rewind it over and over again and it never gets old. However, the Jackass crew is and it’s in those last ten minutes or so that you realize it really is it. There’s a joke where Steve-O says that it’s not a person turns fifty until you can’t take a concussion anymore. That line has sadly never been truer today, but it just makes you appreciate the toils and struggles this crew had to go through.
Jackass: Best and Last is a wonderfully painful, gruesomely punishing, bittersweet cherry on top of this sundae of dedication, perseverance, and everlasting friendship. In a way, it’s a beautiful allegory of life: we create, we love, we get into the craziness of everything, and then it comes to a poignant end. Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” might’ve been on the nose, but I think this wacky franchise has truly earned its cheesy, explosive conclusion.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Jackass: Best and Last releases in theaters June 26.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.