WHO’S IN IT?
Johnny Knoxville (Men in Black 2), Jackson Nicoll (Fun Size), Spike Jonze (The Game), Georgina Cates (Clay Pigeons), the American public
WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Jeff Tremaine (Jackass The Movie), director, writer, producer; Johnny Knoxville (Jackass Number Two) and Spike Jonze (Where The Wild Things Are), writers, producers; Derek Freda (Jackass 3D), producer; Lance Bangs and Dimitry Elyashkevich (the Jackass movies), cinematographers
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
86-year-old Irving Zisman (Knoxville under heavy old-man make-up) goes on a road trip across America with his grandson Billy (Nicoll) to take the young boy to his father when his mother is put in prison. Along the way, they get themselves into countless situations and stunts that shock the unaware public…
WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?
Of all the TV shows to get a movie spin-off, nobody would have guessed that the highly stupid and extremely dangerous stunts of MTV’s Jackass would translate successfully onto the big screen. However, we were proven wrong not once, not twice, but three times with a trilogy of successes on the big screen, all of which were more entertaining and – most importantly – funnier than the last.
Although all the actors played themselves most of the time, the rare few times they have been in character to fool members of the public have always attracted big laughs. Now, one of them is getting their own movie with shocks-a-plenty and a whole lot of hilarious crudeness that we can only expect from the people who brought us the Poo Cocktail Supreme (go find it on YouTube and bask in its disgustingness!).
Johnny Knoxville here reprises his character of Irving Zisman, the Bad Grandpa of the title whose debauchery knows no limits whether it be public drunkenness, aggressive flirting and typical old-age gags mixed with crazy stunts and disgusting gross-out humour we’ve all come to expect from the Jackass movies. Much of the film is of him and grandson Jackson Nicoll engaging in Borat-esque public debaucheries as the majority of the unaware American public watch on in a strange mixture of horror and confusion. From the trailer alone, it seems like no stone is left unturned, including the pair even entering a beauty pageant contest with some hilariously awkward results from the crowd.
On a side note, also look out for filmmaker Spike Jonze – a man whose line of credits including Being John Malkovich and Where The Wild Things Are instantly make you question his strong connection to the Jackass franchise – in another work of walking make-up during the film, which he also co-wrote and produced.
Unfortunately, it looks like the rest of the Jackass team, from Steve-O to Wee Man, are nowhere to be seen here so we will sadly be shortened of their crazy chemistry and sadistic challenges that can at times cause severe harm to themselves. But we have an old man and his young grandson, the idea of which which may not seem as strong but knowing this sort of humour they will not let us down that easily.
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – to give its complete, official title – is a riotous comedy adventure that is definitely not for the naïve or faint-hearted, as the humour seems to get way too crude at times and gently touching mean territory, but for anyone who saw the TV show, paid to see the movies and loved every millisecond of it, this is a worthy addition to the team’s finest moments of their career. Right alongside Poo Cocktail Supreme (seriously, YouTube it. You won’t be disappointed!).
