Plot: What’s it about?
Jackass. The title alone sums up this movie quite well. A bunch of jackasses engaged in jackass behavior, just like the television show. Only this time around, the guys have more money and by turn, can pull off bigger stunts and more complex scenarios. Led by Johnny Knoxville, who has since become a moderate star in normal movies, these guys push themselves to the limit of pain, humiliation, and stupidity, all in the name of making us all laugh. A varied troupe, from Steve-O to Chris Pontius to Dave England, from the CKY crew to Wee Man, if nothing else, Jackass has all the moron bases covered. You’ll see them rent cars and then enter demolition derbies, attempt to pull off insane stunts while behind the wheel of golf carts, brave wild animals, and dress up as old folks, all that and more. The finale jokes that a Son of Jackass sequel is in the works, but now four years later, that joke has become a reality, as Number Two looms…
After a four year absence, the Jackass crew is back in action and only in theaters, as the sequel to Jackass: The Movie launches soon. As often happens when a sequel is released, the original has been given a new cover and tags like Special Edition and Unrated, to drum up interest. This is a classic example of how bad this trend has become, as there is actually less content here than on the original edition. The unrated content amounts to mere unblurred male nakedness and a few added seconds of one stunt. Not exactly a director’s cut and what has been altered doesn’t add much to the experience. In addition, the only new supplements are the preview for the sequel and a few outtakes from the television series. A number of extras were actually removed also, so not all the stuff has been carried over here. The movie itself is a blast in my opinion, with a lot of hilarious and memorable moments, so this is a real shame. I love the demolition derby rental car, golf cart mayhem, and several other stunts performed, this is more than solid entertainment. But to be honest, this new version simply has nothing to offer fans, so its safe to keep your original release in this case.
Video: How does it look?
Jackass: The Movie is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The bulk of the movie was shot on digital video, with exceptions of the opening and ending sequences. The difference is obvious, since those scenes have a polished, refined presence, while the rest of the movie looks more like a home video. That’s not a concern however, since this material doesn’t need to look polished and refined. And let’s be realistic, you can’t fault the transfer when the source is to blame. This transfer takes the limited source material and makes it look as good as possible, which is all we can ask.
Audio: How does it sound?
The same view on the video holds true here, as this is a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, but usually just sounds like a home movie. There is more presence of course, since the rear channels are used, but keep your expectations realistic. The opening and ending sequences once again prove to shine above the rest, with more professional presentations. The dialogue is sometimes louder than others, so you might not catch every word, but for what it is, this soundtrack is up to par. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
As I mentioned before, the only new supplements are the Jackass Number Two preview and some outtakes from the television series. The other stuff is ported over, with two audio commentary tracks, almost half an hour of additional footage, and the MTV behind the scenes special. If you want in depth reports on those, please consult the review of the original disc.
