2006, Paramount Pictures/MTV Films, Dir. Jeff Tremaine - Starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Preston Lacy, Ryan Dunn, Ehren McGhehey, Jason “Wee-Man” Acuña, Dave Englund, Jeff Tremaine, John Waters, Jay Chadrasekhar

I find it sad that Jackass 2 used its negative press from the first Jackass film to promote its entirely unnecessary sequel. David Lynch has used to it to his advantage in the past, such as Lost Highway, but even the average moviegoer would be sure that they could be surprised during a Lynch flick. Everything that happens in this movie is known before you enter the theater. And why anyone likes to subject themselves to the inane, tragic stunts of a group of friends is simply beyond me. Jackass 2 intends to be a supposedly “funny” movie - people hurting themselves is worth the price of admission, according to MTV’s standards. The majority of Jackass 2 is unamusing. Can it be called comedy when everything is a constant punch line? Rather, the second installment (and hopefully the last) of the music channel’s dreadful skit show is a display of bad behavior and bad decisions. Just pick one of many ways to enjoy and understand the world of Jackass - drugs, alcohol, or a bulletproof chest.

What plot is there to write? I’m certainly not going to insult my intelligence and repeat every single gag the gang has to offer, but they involve such things as a pubic-hair beard, horse ejaculation, rocket blasters, snakes, yaks, and other deadly creatures who love to be provoked by middle-aged idiots. This is the material made for you to choke on a popcorn kernel, and drown yourself in your soda. Now, now, maybe I’m being a little too hard on it. Of course, Jackass 2 wasn’t made for some people. But movies created for a select audience defy the ultimate goal of a movie - something to be seen by all, and experienced in different ways. I was hoping that this revolting spectacle could have shed some light on the behavior of amateur backyard wild boys; maybe feature a little more dialogue amongst the gang rather than throwing a beehive into their limo. It’s really tiring to see one bad joke lined up after another, although some of their hits really do lend a good laugh. Which ones they are, I won’t say. And technically, I don’t think it would be appropriate to describe.

What brought Johnny Knoxville to the stunts again? His credentials have hit an all-time high, so the return to Jackass is a surprise. His same light-hearted delivery and endless depths of stupidity he’ll dive into is welcomed, but he seems to be out of place. Bam Margera, Steve-O and rest of the gang all feel overshadowed by Knoxville even when on the center stage. The same camcorder cinematography and random cameos are appreciated, but is never forgiven due to what they produce. This isn’t a movie as much as it’s snuff. And the biggest question I pose to MTV is the Jackass forewarning about their stunts. The cast, crew, and producers make sure that no little children end up performing any of the stupid acts they do, but who’s to say anyone older won’t give it a shot? It’s another game of film limbo - how low can you go.

I can hardly write another paragraph about the movie without racking my brains for something good to mention. Jackass Number Two is bad news, through and through. It’s the same disgusting work that America saw four years ago, and it does little more than expose how lowbrow some people are willing to go for a laugh. Right when I thought the Wayans couldn’t be topped.