Title: Jackass 3.5
Format: Blu-ray
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Directed by: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Dave England “Danger Ehren” McGhehey
Studio: MTV Films, Dickhouse
Film Rating: 
Blu-ray Rating: 
Review by: Bill Jones
The Film
After a television show on MTV and three feature-length films, Jackass has firmly embedded its “stupid” humor in American pop culture. And while it seems that we’ve always seen enough, Jackass has found ways to reinvent itself just enough to keep us hooked.
Its debut on the big screen made every stunt bigger and more extreme, and stripped the show of its television censoring. Jackass 2 upped the ante again, actually getting smart about its juvenile stunts, in a film of double crosses the cast played on one another. And then for the latest, the crew utilized a Phantom 3D camera to make all of the cocks come flying out of the screen in its latest gags, in slow motion.
Jackass 3.5 provides a feature-length presentation of what amounts to the scraps from the filming of Jackass 3-D. Like most deleted scenes, it is easy to see why these were cut from the original film. That’s not to say the stunts aren’t funny – some of them definitely are – but 3.5 is filled with flubs, concepts that didn’t quite reach their potential and other small bits that just didn’t fit. It sounds strange to say it, but Jackass has its standards, and these gags didn’t quite pass, but they’re mildly amusing for the hardcore fans.
What makes the film a little extra worthwhile is that, instead of just presenting the bits, Jackass 3.5 splices in interviews with the cast and crew, talking about what went right and wrong, and what it’s like to be on the set of a Jackass film – SPOILER ALERT, it’s mostly paranoia. It’s a nice way to give some added depth to the previously scrapped footage.
The Blu-ray
For as much as Jackass 3.5 is a collection of B-side material, the Blu-ray release it gets is pretty fantastic. The special features (identical on DVD) consist of the featurette “Jackass: The Beginning,” deleted scenes, outtakes and a Jackass European Tour reel. “The Beginning” featurette offers a surprising amount of depth, looking back at the origins of Jackass, while the other three offer predictably but hefty and oftentimes funny extras.
Jackass 3.5 also benefits on Blu-ray from the high-definition shooting of Jackass 3-D, and for better or worse (still lots of gross-out gags) looks crystal clear. The special features also come in high-definition, with the exception of some of the early Jackass footage from “The Beginning” featurette. All in all, it’s a nice disc for the kind of fans who would spend extra money on scrapped Jackass footage.
For more info, dickhouse.tv
Pads & Panels received copy of the Blu-ray courtesy of the studio for review purposes.
