Jackass 3D

I remember going to see the original Jackass movie with a group of friends. We were all under 18, so we had to go with my mom. She sat a few rows to the side, so not to embarrass us. And as we watched that film, I remember laughing and looking over at her to see that she was laughing almost as hard as all of us were.

I'm not a skater; never have been, never will be. But I was 15 when Jackass first aired on television, so what they were pitching was right in my wheel house. 10 years later, the Jackass gang hasn't missed a step. The budget is bigger, the friends are more famous, but the pure anarchic spirit is still alive and well; and my adolescence thanks them for it.

I never really thought I'd be nostalgic for Jackass. I was a fan of the show, but I never thought it left that lasting of an impression on me. But as the end credits rolled and clips from the bygone era of CKY played, I found myself thinking back fondly at the times I've watched these guys maim and humiliate themselves; all for the joy of making themselves, and us, laugh or throw up depending on the stunt.

And therein lies the brotherhood quality of Jackass. These guys are having fun first and making money second and it never feels like the other way around. Its as if they've let us into their group to hang out with them and revel in the pranks and stunts, while at the same time, afforded a safe distance from, say, a giant hand slapping us in the face or getting kicked in the balls by a donkey.

I can imagine that Jackass is quite polarizing; I feel like you either get it or you don't. Neither group is smarter than the other; its just a matter of taste. But this is this generation's Three Stooges. These guys sacrifice their bodies for a laugh and in its own bizarre way, its quite a noble pursuit.

I would've liked to see something acknowledging the death of Ryan Dunn, but maybe that exists in a Jackass 3.5, if there is such a thing. The bittersweet nostalgic credits carries a bit heavier weight with his untimely death and its a nice note to go out on, if this is the last we see of the crew.

As far as I'm concerned, these guys have never disappointed and Jackass 3 is just as good as anything they've ever done. Watch it with some friends, some beers, and some buds and laugh your ass off.