A review of Jackass 3D will probably only reach those who already enjoy the franchise because with the third installment audiences know whether this movie is for them or not. Jackass 3D offers the requisite gross-out gags and stupid stunts only this time with the added benefit of a third dimension. The 3D is a fun gimmick with this film but the movie fumbles with an overemphasis on style and gags that never seem about having fun.
Johnny Knoxville and his team of jackasses, quite literally, get together for another round of debauchery. In this installment witness Bam Margera get thrown into a pit of snakes, Steve-O get slingshot in the air while stuck in a Port-O-Potty and balls getting thrown at people’s faces.
If you’re a fan of stupid people doing equally stupid things then Jackass 3D is for you. The selling point of this installment is the 3D aspect and surprisingly enough the crew takes full advantage. You definitely get your money’s worth with a gorgeous opening with Beavis and Butthead that looked remarkable in 3D despite not being particularly funny. From then on the crew includes the audience in everything from having sex toys thrown at the screen to, at one point, having it rain poo onto the camera. Again, if you enjoyed the first two Jackasses and the series then this will be an added incentive to see the film. Aside from the 3D the various gags have their individual levels of hilarity. The simpler gags go over the best when objects are being thrown at people or the crew tries to sicken random citizens, in particular a gag involving Knoxville dressed as an old man making out with his granddaughter. The movie sets out to make people laugh and succeeds for the most part. Some of the more creative jokes, like two men super gluing parts of each other on others, are also hilarious. The cast and crew are friends and throughout the movie you get small glimpses into their interactions with each other. They’re not afraid to pull pranks and then laugh apart as they’re stumbling in pain and a touching montage at the end focused on the cast as teens emphasizes how far they’ve all come together.
Emphasized several times already if you’re squeamish about human fecal matter or vomit, then avoid Jackass 3D. If you skipped the first two there’s nothing different about this one so it’s best to avoid. With that there are a few stumbling blocks in this installment. Some gags just go way too far including a volcano made of poo that never at all comes off as funny, merely disgusting. Some gags start out really well and then end with nothing to show for it. The celeb cameos like Seann William Scott and Tony Hawk also never go anywhere unlike the last movie where they were integrated into the film. The movie also doesn’t do a whole lot with the fan favorite characters like Margera’s parents April and Phil. Aside from two gags they aren’t utilized which is a shame as more of the longer running gags from the first two focused on them. It seemed as the movie progressed that the crew were tired and running out of ideas, as much as they tried to keep things light the rushed feel of the movie made it seem like they were running out of steam.
If you enjoyed Jackass, Jackass 2 and 2.5, then go out and enjoy Jackass 3D. The 3D gimmick is used wonderfully and the crew feels more like a family than ever. Not every gag hits home and some are downright crude but if you enjoy stupid humor and want to waste 90 minutes laughing at a bunch of loveable idiots then check it out!
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