Why am I still laughing at the gross-out humor and painful stunts? IDK. I just did.

20 years ago, the hit stunt show on MTV “Jackass” made its theatrical debut in “Jackass The Movie.” Then it made a few more sequels that nauseated or tickled audiences. Now, we have “Jackass Forever,” which is just as gross, just as painful, and just as damn funny as it goes.

I know we have to grow up, I know the humor has to involve sperm, crap, and penises, and I know there will be some blood. But why did I laugh? Because it’s very funny the way the Jackass crew attempts the dangerous stunts that nobody should ever try at home. The intro and closing always has to warn audiences of the dangers they should avoid at all costs. “Warning: The stunts in this movie were performed by professionals. So for your safety and the protection of those around you, do not attempt any of the stunts you’re about to see.”

Once again directed by Jeff Tremaine, Johnny Knoxville, Steve O, Wee Man, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Danger Ehren, and Preston Lacy are all joined by a variety of newcomers: Poopies, Zach Holmes, Jasper Dolphin, Rachel Wolfson, Eric Manaka, and Darkshark, as they continue to grow older, but not much wiser.

Their stunts and pranks now involve spiders, ramps, dark rooms, giant hands, and even Knoxville’s Irving Zisman has to get hurt. And some of the other dumb decisions have to be serve as throwbacks to their previous dumb decisions.

As always, there is no story, just a series of vomiting, screaming, and OMGs. And as always, you get guest stars getting humiliated at their own expense from Eric Andre to Tyler, the Creator to Tony Hawk.

I’ve recently seen a number of bad comedies where they try and fail to mimic the behaviors and humor from “Movie 43” to “The Brothers Grimsby” to “The House” to “Tag” to “The Happytime Murders” to “The Buddy Games” to “Bad Trip.” And on the other hand, I have seen some enjoyable examples from the “Jackass” spin-off “Bad Grandpa” to “Neighbors” to “Good Boys” to “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” So, I’m not made of stone. I can have a laugh at the humor every now and then, but only if the gags are presented in a lively and original fashion.

“Jackass Forever” follows the same rules, and some of the antics are a little dull and too painful to watch, and yet, I was still tickled by how Knoxville, Steve O, Wee Man, and Chris Pontius, and the crew pull them off. Will these guys grow up? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing’s for certain, they’ll keep ending up in the ER.

Categories: Action, comedy, Mockumentary