The motley Jackass crew is back once again in glorious 3D for their third outing on the big screen -- and the results are exactly as gut-busting as a fan of theirs would expect. It's humorous to hear people disparage this entry, stating that the crew fell short of their goals, because really, the flick is exactly what these guys do best. Sure, it's filled with poo, penises, and cringe-worthy madness, but just like their best material, everything in Jackass 3D is coated in such an extreme absurdity that it's hard not to laugh -- and keep on laughing again and again and again. By adding a third dimension, the pack of fearless pranksters give the world of cinema a steaming pile of hilarious sights and gags that, up until this point, were never meant for public consumption -- and bravo to them for that.
Once again, Johnny Knoxville and his cohorts gather together and dream up new childish ways to make each other -- and their audience -- giggle uncontrollably. Whether it's pummeling one another in their groins or throwing together half-cooked skits that employ everything from costumes, sets, wild animals, and most often, feces, the boys are a wealth of "you shouldn't do this -- we're not even sure if we should" comedy. It's not easy to watch, but that's the point. There's electricity in the air when they tie dental floss from a Lamborghini to a tooth as they perform unlicensed medical surgery on one of their own. And if you miss a moment because you were covering your eyes, no worries -- there are plenty of slow-mo recaps to fill you in on the horrible gags that you missed.
As for the presentation, it's hard to justify flying human waste in crystal-clear 3D, but damn if they don't make a good case for it. Realized in the third dimension, the bawdy playground antics take on a whole new life -- intensifying audience reactions to each and every clownish act being performed on the big screen. And to be honest, it's hard not to be impressed by bravura shots of a remote-controlled toy helicopter flying toward the camera as it's tethered to a Jackass performer's... well, you just have to see it for yourself -- or don't. This particularly silly and extremely gross cinematic experience is not for everyone, yet there is something to be said about a flick that does exactly what it sets out to do -- deliver consistent laughs to a target audience who's more than happy to eat it up. In another setting, some of this would be performance art; in theaters, it's the most technologically advanced goofball sideshow to open up across the country in the history of cinema. For that, Knoxville and company get a resounding '80s-style slow clap -- feel free to not join in at your own expense.