Because I’m not a big fan of “stunt comedy” films, I stayed away from Jackass Number Two when it hit theaters last year. I’m the type of person who thought that Borat was one of the most pathetic, stupid films ever made. I was forced into seeing the first Jackass film four years ago and walked out of the theater wondering why I wasted my precious Friday evening.
Anyway, I was in a very depressed mood last evening and immediately needed something to escape my misery, even if it was a different misery. Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man and company might not be everybody’s idea of an anti-depressant, but their pathetic antics certainly worked on me.
Anybody who was thrilled with the first Jackass will most likely love more electrocutions, horse semen drinking, a penis-nipping snake, motor bike accidents, butt burnings, bull attacks, unsavory bungee jumps, transgender jokes, swarming bee attacks, more “bathroom” accidents, butt chugging, etc. But nothing will prepare you for one of the film's final stunts, where Danger Aaron thinks dressing up like a terrorist (with the pubic hairs of the other cast members he is unaware of) will scare the taxi cab driver. Little does Danger Aaron know that the taxi cab driver, Jay Chandresekhar, is aware of the stunt and turns it into another stunt. It isn’t as graphically disturbing as some of the other Jackass stunts, but the very idea of this segment and the way they execute it is just about the most offensive thing I’ve ever seen on film. It’s also one of the most hilarious!
The film flows from one scene to another with ease and even when the rare boring scenes appear (butt electrocution, doorbell punching bag, human fishhook) you know something more “exciting” awaits your eyes. All the scenes are filmed in such a way that the viewer feels (and at times, regrets) that he/she is part of the action.
Part of me hopes there will be a Jackass Number Three. However, another part of me feels that if they extend the boundaries of danger and poor taste even more than this sequel, many of the cast members will be dead. Judging from the Jackass series so far, perhaps the cast members won’t mind. They’ll be laughing themselves all the way to heaven (or hell).
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