Paramount Home Video presents

Jackass Number Two: Unrated (2006)

"Alright, boys and girls, it's time for a puppet show!"- Johnny Knoxville

Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Wee Man
Other Stars: Preston Lacy, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey
Director: Jeff Tremaine

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (extremely crude and dangerous stunts throughout, sexual content, nudity and language)
Run Time: 01h:33m:23s
Release Date: 2006-12-26
Genre: comedy

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
B+	B+	A-	B	A

 

DVD Review

It's common knowledge that Americans are suckers for "reality" programming, specifically, material involving morons performing insane stunts. The Jackass franchise has cornered the market in this category, delivering a highly rated TV series and multiple spin-offs on MTV, and also bowing a pair of successful feature films. Jackass Number Two enjoyed a brief but lucrative theatrical run this past fall and comes to DVD courtesy of Paramount on a fairly loaded disc.

For the uninitiated, the Jackass cast features the same guys we know and love: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, and many more. Knoxville and the boys don't stray from what worked in the first film, performing a collection of brief segments that never gives audience members time to catch their breath. Just when you think they have exhausted every possible idea for stunts and overall nastiness, the guys come up with more fresh material. The segments last anywhere from one to 10 minutes, and they're edited just right, even mixing in a recurring bit with filmmaker Spike Jonze dressed as an old lady whose blouse won't stay closed.

Dave England is constantly hurting his butt, while Steve-O gives nasty a new name, but the franchise wouldn't be the same without Johnny Knoxville, a guy who came out of nowhere but has gone on to headline Hollywood films. Unlike many stars who have gone on to bigger things, Knoxville has stayed true to his roots and the fans that made him who he is by giving it his all here. He gets attached to a rocket that is launched into the air, stands in a riot-control simulation that involves harmful pellets, and is blasted by a horned bull, to name only a few daring feats. Aside from asking a semi-vain question involving damage to his face, Johnny continues to be the fire that keeps this hilarious car wreck going.

There are plenty of funny bits, but many incredibly gross ones as well. We're talking DO NOT eat anything right before or while watching this. It's pretty easy to telegraph the results of most of these stunts, but the nasty stuff comes when least expected. Of course, it isn't hard to believe that Steve-O is behind the most disgusting (if that can actually be pinpointed) bit, but he is given a run for his money when a sexually aroused horse appears on the scene. A theater manager I know talked of vomiting in his establishment during this film's run, and you'll know why after getting through much of it.

Still, Jackass Number Two is all about death-defying (read: DUMB) stunts, kicks to the groin, dangerous animal bites, and bull horns to the stomach. When they deem Terror Taxi to be the greatest skit of the film, they aren't far off. Nothing can beat the show-stopping musical number that wraps things up, though, while the stunt-filled end credits sequence is worth the price of admission alone, complete with a cameo from one big-name Hollywood actor. A third movie in the near future wouldn't be a surprise, and despite the immorality of much of this material, there is a place for Knoxville and the guys in the overall Hollywood landscape. Just remember that that place isn't exactly a safe place for your mother or kids.

Rating for Style: B+
Rating for Substance: B+

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.85:1 - Widescreen
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	yes

Image Transfer Review: The anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen presentation survives the transfer from film to DVD quite well thanks to its DV roots. There is a small amount of the format's inherent grain, but the images are sharp and detailed for the most part. Colors are bright and lively; contrast and black levels are solid.

Image Transfer Grade: A-
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English	yes
Dolby Digital 5.1	English	yes

Audio Transfer Review: There's a choice between Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0, and, while the nature of this content doesn't produce ear-busting sound, both tracks are more than sufficient. The 5.1 holds the slight edge, if only for the livelier way that it handles the film's music, utilizing the surrounds and a bit more bass than the 2.0. The dialogue is just fine on both tracks, remaining crisp and clear despite the numerous sound effects.

Audio Transfer Grade: B 

Disc Extras

Full Motion menu with music
Scene Access with 55 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English, Spanish with remote access
1 Original Trailer(s)
4 Other Trailer(s) featuring Norbit, Babel, The Last Kiss, Nacho Libre
1 TV Spots/Teasers
52 Deleted Scenes
1 Documentaries
1 Feature/Episode commentary by Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey, Jeff Tremaine, Dimitry Elyashkevich
Packaging: Keep Case
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: dual

Extra Extras:

1. Music Video for "Karazy" by Chris Pontius/Big Nasty
2. Photo Gallery
3. Outtakes
4. Unrated VMA Spots

Extras Review: If the feature isn't wild enough for you, Paramount offers plenty of bonus footage that takes things to yet another level. The audio commentary is a who's-who of Jackass mainstays—Knoxville, Steve-O, Pontius, Dunn, Wee Man, Lacy, England, McGhehey, director Jeff Tremaine, and cinematographer Dimitry Elyashkevich. This group is having as much fun on this track as they apparently had during shooting, spending more time goofing around than actually discussing the making of the film.

Next, The Making of: Jackass Number Two is basically more footage of Knoxville and his buddies goofing off, but the coverage of the first day of shooting and other candid on-set footage make this worth checking out.

Cut footage is unveiled with seven unrated additional segments that are full of male nudity, and 16 deleted scenes with more bone-busting stunts than anything else. The unseen clips continue in a whopping 29 additional segments. These are more stunts that didn't make it into the film, finishing up an amazing collection of such sequences that will keep fans busy for hours.

Eight minutes of hilarious outtakes are next, followed by a music video for Karazy by Chris Pontius and Big Nasty, as well as the theatrical trailer. Things finish up with two minutes of unrated spots, a photo gallery, and previews for other Paramount releases.

Extras Grade: A
 

Final Comments

Hide your women and children and clear the streets; Johnny Knoxville and company are back in Jackass Number Two. This second stunt-filled extravaganza comes to home video via an impressive (and unrated, thanks to some extra male nudity) DVD from Paramount. The audio and video are much better than expected, and a ton of extras are sure to please fans.

Chuck Aliaga 2007-01-04