Directed by: Jeff Tremaine
Written by:Jeff Tremaine, Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Dave England, Ryan Dunn, Jason Acuna
Released: February 20, 2003
Grade: B-

Warning: The following review contains material which may be unsuitable for many readers.

The concept of Jackass began in 1996 when magazine editor Jeff Tremaine suggested to Johnny Knoxville that he videotape his crazy stunts.  Together, they released these videos to the public and Jackass became an overnight sensation.  MTV bought the rights and soon, a weekly show was being broadcast across America.  The show has only recently debuted in Australia (Wednesday nights at 10pm on Channel 10).  But with TV censorship limiting what they could show, they decided to make a movie (which has been rated R here) to take the depravity one step further and go in search of a larger audience.

Basically, it’s a bunch of guys, who with the help of friends, do things that are highly dangerous, disgustingly sick, or both.  Some stunts are funnier than others and the film is a mixed bag but be forewarned that this stuff will shock you.  It’s not cheap toilet humour – this is full on, nasty stuff.  There’s no point reviewing such a film by looking at the acting, the direction or the plot.  All you can go on is a gut feeling and oh yes, my gut was moving during some of these scenes.  Some stunts are funnier than others and the film is a mixed bag but be forewarned that this stuff will shock you.  It’s not cheap toilet humour – this is full on, nasty stuff.

With that out of the way, there’s nothing left to do except describe what I was witness to.  Believe me, this is not a joke.  Everything I list below, is seen in this film.  Nothing more needs to be said.

  • A guy gets an electric shock device, straps it to his scrotum, and then lets his friends turn the nob up and down.

  • A guy goes up to random strangers on the street, strips off all his clothes (except for a g-string) and then starts dancing.

  • A guy takes on a world boxing champion and is beaten to the point where he is concussed and requires stitches to the head.

  • A guy is shot in the stomach (with no protection) by a projectile travelling at a speed of 250 feet per second.

  • A guy dangles above a pool of alligators, wearing only a jock-strap, with a large slice of meat hanging from his back, tempting the alligator to eat it.

  • A guy goes into a plumbing store and takes a dump in a brand new toilet which is not connected to any plumbing.

  • A guy leaves an alligator in the kitchen of this house so that his mother will get a surprise when she gets home.

  • A guy is forced to go a long period of time without using the restroom and then shits himself (literally) in the car before showing everyone the mess he has made.

  • A guy rents a hire-car before completely destroying it and then returning it to the rental place.

  • A guy inserts a firework in his anus and lets it fire off into the night sky.

  • A guy sticks pounds of live shrimp in his underwear before diving into a tank of whale sharks.

  • A guy inserts a toy car in his butt before going to a doctor to have it x-rayed and see the response he gets.

  • A guy deliberately gives himself paper cuts in between every finger and every toe on his body.

  • A guy makes a plain snow cone, urinates on it for flavour, eats it, and then throws up the yellow liquid.