Jackass: Best and Last is a bittersweet, chaotic farewell for the diehard faithful
Best and Last is a final ivory soap endorsement for the folks who redefined the constraints of comedy. Sort of a punch-me-in-the-face finale for a group of guys after decades of redefining the rules. It recycles well worn tropes, but is strongest as a touching ode to the passage of time and the remaining bond of brothers.
The Anatomy of a Final Stunt
Director Jeff Tremaine and cinematographer Dimitry Elyashkevich stick with the series’ raw, handheld style, letting the stunts feel unfinished and the emotions real. The footage draws the audience into the center of the chaos while capturing the raw, painful emotional reactions on the cast members’ faces as they push their bodies to their absolute limit one last time. This chapter brings a unique shift in comparison to earlier chapters. Because of the nature of this being the final chapter, there is an obvious sense of exhaustion and mortality, while earlier chapters thrived on a sense of shock. In this final chapter, it is less about the execution of a prank, and more about the emotional connection that remains even when participants realize their bodies aren’t able to keep up with their young spirit anymore.
The Limits of Puerile Provocation
Criticism of this film often foregrounds emotional depth, but acknowledged that the idea is still cheesy and divisive. A lot of people hate on the franchise for staying in the spotlight because they feel like the slapstick nature of the franchise is just a cheap knock off of the original idea and lacks real originality and evolution.
I think this critique is a little too harsh because they are not taking into account the meta layers of the film. I don’t think you can talk about this film and just say the best part is the stunts. The appeal is that we are all watching the characters come to terms with their own demise, and yes the humor does meander into repetition, but I think the film has a lot of substance and is able to treat its own ending in a way I didn’t expect it to, with a lot of gravity and respect.
Who Should Witness the Final Ride
Those who have watched every single episode and film will want to check this out to see the end of the journey on the big screen. This time around, this cast will try to show you why watching their mid-life crises in elaborately constructed comedy is what you have been waiting for. If the previous films did not give you that, this one will not change your mind.
This film also marks the end of an extreme era of the stunt culture that they helped popularize. Simply put, this is how they choose to show the world what it would be like if your friends refused to take responsibility and grow up. I for one appreciate the choice they made to showcase that on the big screen.
