Jackass Forever is the requel of the Jackass franchise. That term is super popular these days, but it’s basically when a franchise gets an entry that’s half remake and half sequel. Audiences get the “legacy” cast, but they’re mixed with some newcomers. Young people watching the series for the first time get younger cast members, but the older audience gets to see their heroes again. In the case of horror movies, it works sometimes, and other times it doesn’t. In the case of Jackass Forever, the new cast is the backbone of the movie.

Don’t worry for people looking to see Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Danger Ehren, Wee-Man, Preston Lacy, or anyone else in the original Jackass crew (minus a couple of members for outside circumstances or tragic accidents, RIP Ryan Dunn); they still get more than enough time to shine. However, young blood and, more importantly, young bones are needed for a good portion of the more punishing stunts.

The new cast consists of Rachel Wolfson, Jasper, Eric Manaka, Zach Holmes, and Poopies. They go for it with vigor and reckless abandon to match the original cast’s titanic stunts performed in the past. Their addition made this movie possible. It’s pretty seamless how they integrate, and after five minutes, you don’t even notice that they’re new. That’s how well they fit in here. In addition to the new cast, we have some celebrity appearances by Tony Hawk, Tyler the Creator, Eric Andre, Jalen Ramsey, Francis Ngannou, and Machine Gun Kelly,

How Are The Stunts And Sketches?

First off, this movie has the best opening scene of any of the Jackass films. It starts off fantastic and then only gets better as it goes on. Without spoiling anything, it might not be as destructive or bone-crunching as the first scene from Jackass The Movie, but it captures the essence of what Jackass is all about. From there, there’s a collection of classic style stunts involving hair-brained ideas like a gigantic lubed-up waterslide or a marching band on a treadmill going way too fast. The pinnacle is a sketch involving night-vision goggles, a rattlesnake, and a “door to freedom”. Saying anything else about it would spoil the experience, but rest assured, it’s the funniest scene in the movie.

There are also plenty of wince-inducing scenes Ehren McGhehey goes through the most punishment here, and the trilogy of “cup checks,” including a fourth bonus cup check that’s one of the most painful-looking things ever shown in Jackass history. One scene, in particular, is brutal to watch where Johnny Knoxville breaks his ribs, wrist, suffers a concussion, brain hemorrhaging, and passes out. It’s a wonder that this one made the final film, but it shows the passion and ‘show must go on’ attitude that we love from Jackass.

Of the final scenes in the film series, this one feels like it’s smaller in scale but also fits right in with what you’d expect. It’s crazy, hilarious, adds multiple layers of stupidity, and finishes with numerous mistimed explosions.

Jackass Forever Has To Be The Last, For The Cast’s Sake

There is the sinking feeling that you’re watching multiple 40 and 50-year-old people doing horrific things to their bodies for our enjoyment. That feeling permeates throughout Jackass Forever, the cast mentions it, and this does feel like the final film for this crew. This whole shoot feels like a sendoff for these people many of us have grown up with. The new cast, however awesome, isn’t large enough and doesn’t have the star power or feel that the originals do. They could try to have a young blood version of Jackass, but that might feel contrived.

There’s a distinct lack of Bam Margera and the CKY portion of the original Jackass crew. His off-screen troubles forced him out of the picture before they finished filming. As a result, there’s no mention of him at all throughout Jackass Forever. Ryan Dunn gets a lovely tribute at the end, but even with most of the original cast in the film, it feels like something is missing.

Those issues and the issue of watching older people put their bodies on the line doesn’t derail Jackass Forever. It’s hilarious, the stunts and sketches are uproarious, and it all just builds upon the charm and ingenuity that we all know and love from Jackass. Through the new cast, the old cast, and everything in between, there isn’t a bad time had watching Jackass Forever.

Jackass Forever releases in theaters on February 4th.

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