JACKASS NUMBER TWO (2006)
Director: Jeff Tremaine

Perhaps the most prevalent trend in the history of arts and entertainment is the sequel. From novels to motion pictures to video games, sequels have seemingly become both an important part of storytelling and — depending on the success of the source material — a guaranteed moneymaker. Sequels are an especially major part of the Hollywood filmmaking process, with movies like Superman II, The Godfather Part II, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and The Dark Knight becoming some of the most popular sequels of all time. But then Paramount Pictures went and released a sequel that few expected, and only the most diehard of fans really wanted: the appropriately-titled Jackass Number Two. Both fans and critics thought they'd seen the last of the Jackass crew back in 2002, as the original movie was billed as the final farewell for the cast of MTV's controversial franchise. But I guess they had more raunchy pranks and extreme stunts to feast upon moviegoers, because the crew reunited four years later for Jackass Number Two.

As with the original movie, the movie has no plot whatsoever. It is merely a feature-length episode of the show, only a million times filthier. The movie features the crew's nine main members — Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Ryan Dunn, Dave England, Jason "Wee Man" Acuña, Ehren McGhehey, and Preston Lacy — performing stunts that are outrageous, hilarious, disgusting, and offensive. Some of the lesser, more ancillary Jackass cast members are also along for the ride, as are notable names such as Luke Wilson, Tony Hawk, NFL star Jason Taylor, filmmakers John Waters and Jay Chandrasekhar, and Oscar-winning rappers Three 6 Mafia.

Honestly, the truth of the matter is that I could half-ass this thing by copy-and-pasting my review for the original movie here. There wouldn't be much difference either way. The only difference is that Jackass Number Two is far more disgusting than either the TV show or the first movie. There's more uncomfortable male nudity, a copious amount of a certain male bodily fluid, some feces, a little blood, and just about every other revolting thing you could think of. It's legitimately one of the nastiest, grossest movies I've ever seen in my life. It's one thing for horror movies to have blood and guts in them, but that's all fake. All this Jackass silliness is the real deal. And that makes it even more disgusting than anything else.

Like with my critique of the first movie, there really isn't a whole lot to say about Jackass Number Two. Humor is always subjective, but when it comes to stuff like this, it's really subjective. The Jackass franchise is one of those things that more than likely will not appeal to anyone outside of a particular niche audience, those who have followed the franchise and those who enjoy schadenfreude in general. And just like the previous movie, the segments can be hit or miss. There are some bits I thought were hilarious, some I thought were good for a chuckle, and others I didn't particularly care for. And then there were some that I thought could have been completely excised with no ill effect on the movie at all. I mean, where's the humor in watching a guy take a dump on the floor for no reason? Or seeing people eat and drink things that had been expelled from a horse? That's not funny, that's repellant.

But like I said, humor is subjective, and Jackass Number Two is no exception to that. It's an incredibly subversive movie that doesn't just push the boundaries of tastelessness, but beats the snot out of them. It's not going to appeal to everybody, but only about half of it appeals to me, and I'm a Jackass fan. But I would say that it's worth a watch if you enjoy extreme frat boy humor and guys risking life and limb by doing incredibly stupid things just to get a laugh. I think I'll call it down the middle and give Jackass Number Two two and a half stars out of the standard five. I don't really know what else there is to say, other than I wonder just how they'll top themselves if they ever decide to make Jackass 3.

Final Rating: **½