The importance of being a Jackass

Whenever one is asked to name the funniest films ever made, the thoughtful (and wise) answer would probably be something like Woody Allen’s Annie Hall or Sleeper, or maybe perhaps Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot. If you ask this columnist, the distinction would be a toss up Monty Python’s Life of Brian (the only film to my knowledge whose laughs onscreen are only equaled by the absurd moral debate it caused upon initial release), the John Cleese-penned A Fish Called Wanda, Richard Lester’s A Hard Day’s Night, John Belushi movies like Animal House or The Blues Brothers and – a childhood favorite – the Joey de Leon flick Starzan. Certainly, those are funny films, and have much to commend in them. But what are we to make out of a film that is so morally indefensible, utterly disgusting and without redeeming moral value but riotously funny (the kind that feels like an abdominal workout after) as the Spike Jonze-produced Jackass the Movie?

One word: classic.

Despite being billed as a movie, it has no plot or semblance of story of any kind. Not that it suffers for it. The whole film is an 80-minute extravaganza of the most stupid things people will do just to get a laugh. This includes: (in no particular order) eating a urine-soaked snow cone, snorting lines of wasabi, electrically stimulating various parts of a person’s anatomy, inserting a toy car up a rectum (with generous amounts of anal lube, of course), and taking a dump in a department-store toilet. And that’s not all there is but we wouldn’t want to give everything away, do we? (Then again, something as obscene as munching ice drenched with your own pee or unloading a long turd in public has to be seen to receive its full impact.) Safe to say, it will enthrall fans of the television show while (and this is key) offend everyone else.

What it does share with more common celluloid fare is the presence of characters in the form of a lovable band of misfits who seem to be the coolest friends you never had. And they come in all shapes and sizes. There is the James Dean-meets-Jim Carrey appeal of Johnny Knoxville, the resident fat guy Preston Lacy, an obligatory midget in the person of Jason "Wee Man" Acuna and larger-than-life personalities such as Steve-O, Bam Margera and Chris "Party Boy" Pontius. Virtually pop-culture superstars in America, the group seems to be unfazed. It actually seems to stem from the fact that they don’t give a rat’s ass about it and are quite hell-bent on destroying their reputations. (Actually, Steve-O might have just pushed the line a bit on his own solo video currently available by mail-order. To give you an idea, one of the stunts he performs on it is stapling the skin of his testicles to his thigh.)

Also, like usual films, there are interesting cameos from the likes of skating legend Tony Hawk, ex-Black Flag front-man Henry Rollins and, oddly, Rip Taylor. (Rumor has it that Jack Nicholson, reportedly a big fan of the show, was supposed to guest star and light a fart but was prevailed upon by his better angels – or, to be exact, his financial and P.R advisors to drop out.)

So, is it art? Probably not, but – save for a few humorless f**ks – who the hell cares? (Although the case can be made that it is the ultimate Dogme 95 film; we wonder what a prankster like Lars Von Trier would make of the movie.) At its best, comedy is the most irreverent form of entertainment and Jackass the Movie pushes the genre to the extreme (at a time when only the extreme will do, as some social prophets have said). Make no apologies for laughing your head off while watching it.

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Notes From Underground:

This column encourages you to check out DZRH 666 on the AM band every Saturday from 11-12 midnight where they play live renditions of classic kundimans. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s the type of music your grandparents listen to. It really is quite lovely and intriguing. Thanks to Lourd and Ricky for tuning us into it.

If you are in a more modern mood, you can check out EuroRock on NU 107 every Saturday from 10-11 p.m. DJ Mondo plays the best of modern rock from Europe. Requests are welcome at: eurorock@nme.com.

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>Time for blatant advertising: For those about to worship the sun or take a swim (or just want to arouse members of opposite sex, not that this column has a clue to what that means or entails) check out the knitted bikinis of my friend. It comes in a variety of sizes, colors and designs. Text her at 0916-3448838 for more information.

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On the boob tube, you can check out the classic Batman:The Animated Series and the anime Samurai X on Studio 23 after TV Patrol. Who said animation was just for kids? Also, the original Twilight Zone also airs 11 p.m on the same channel. Now if only they would stop showing the ludicrous Crossing Over.

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For those who prefer a social life (albeit not the kind where you have to shed a considerable amount of brain cells especially those areas governing taste) you are invited to check out Gweilos on C. Palanca St. in Makati especially on Mondays when DJ Ro spins the best from the ’60s to the ’80s. Happy hour all night!

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Send comments and reactions to: erwin_romulo@hotmail.com.