Johnny Knoxville will always be known for his work as the designated ringleader and unlikely Hollywood star of Jackass. From what began as a magazine article pitch meant to explore and test various self-defense devices on himself, most notably including a taser gun, an aerosol mace canister, and bulletproof vest, the actor-turned-writer-turned-stuntman-turned-actor wound up turning the idea into a segment featured in a skateboard video produced and distributed by Big Brother magazine.
From there, Knoxville quickly established a report with the other journalists and editors at Big Brother, before eventually co-creating the MTV original series Jackass. Alongside series director Jeff Tremaine, and in part inspired by a series of stunt-comedy videos independently distributed by Jackass cast member Bam Margera, Knoxville became a star and staple of mainstream TV at the dawn of the 21st century.
Along the way, Knoxville and Tremaine established their own entertainment empire, and produced three proper Jackass feature films that each saw theatrical release between 2002 and 2010. In addition, the duo saw fit to develop such spin-off series as Wildboyz and Viva La Bam, each of which featured various members of the original Jackass cast. And with the release of Action Point, Knoxville is returning to familiar territory once more.
Bruises & Concussions
Beyond the world of Jackass, Knoxville has perpetually pursued an unorthodox career as an A-list star on the silver screen, both by fault and by virtue. And after several stumbles and botched attempts at establishing himself as a mainstream crossover success, with roles in such big budget productions as Men in Black II and The Dukes of Hazzard under his belt, the Tennessee native has finally haggled his way into the realm of narrative acting on his own terms with the release of Action Point.
Following his work as the star of the hidden camera comedy film Bad Grandpa in 2013, Action Point serves as the most finely tuned scripted feature to star Knoxville yet. Based in part on the real-life Action Park of Vernon, New Jersey circa 1978, the new film directed by Tim Kirkby utilizes all of the madcap insanity that its Jackass star brought to the mainstream in the first place.
All of the stunts and pratfalls were performed in real time by Knoxville, resulting in a few more concussions, cuts, scrapes, and bruises to his rugged persona. But unlike Bad Grandpa, which characteristically saw Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine utilizing makeup to disguise the film’s star from a series of unsuspecting marks in a manner akin to their previous work together on Jackass, Action Point fully integrates the same kind of sophomoric stunt work into an original studio comedy that fits right alongside the likes of such cult favorite staples as Meatballs and Caddyshack.
And much like those latter mentioned staples of 1980’s raunch, Action Point is similarly earnest in its complete disregard for proper decorum. Favoring bad taste and gratuitous sex jokes over a more sophisticated sense of humor, Action Point soars past its immediate competition despite itself, and miraculously comes out on top of the pack as one of the most genuinely amusing studio comedies in years.
The Ignoble Misfit
Far from situating himself up as a master comedy writer in his work on Action Point, Knoxville and fellow Jackass co-star Chris Pontius go all in on the same kinds of outlandish and boorish behavior that viewers have come to expect and love. From sicking a dog in heat on a guard dog in order to secure a truckload of pilfered lumber, to ensuring that each and every ride and attraction in the film’s titular amusement park precariously straddles the line between hazardous and deadly, Knoxville has truly outdone himself when it comes to creating yet another series of cinematic scenarios in which chaos is destined to ensue.
But far from coming off as a callous trickster, Knoxville continues to imbue a sense of camaraderie into a particular brand of madness. Granted, there are actual villains this time around to give the film’s script dramatic structure, and as such they often end up being the unwitting targets of more than one devilish prank.
Yet Knoxville still manages to win his audience over in the end, and remains the ignoble misfit and master of ceremonies that he has been since Jackass first debuted on MTV way back in 2000. Even though Action Point is an entirely scripted comedy, the hidden camera antics that Knoxville is so well known for inform each and every action set piece that occurs, and director Tim Kirkby tactfully strings them all together into a more than satisfying whole.
Even if the days of a proper Jackass theatrical release may be behind him, Action Point stands as proof that its star still has a few more tricks up his sleeves. And given the energy and exuberance that Knoxville still seems to possess when it comes to seriously injuring himself in unexpected and hilarious ways, maybe another like-minded 1980s throwback comedy feature is still in store for Jackass fans in the future.
Action Point: Conclusion
Johnny Knoxville is still the designated ring leader and unlikely Hollywood star of Jackass. And far from running out of steam as the the silver screen’s likable misfit of the 2000s, Action Point shows the veteran stuntman and actor at the top of his game in both realms.
Like any one of the previous three Jackass features, Action Point proves why Knoxville is still kicking at the cost of a few more bumps to the head and the return of another good time for longtime viewers. Even though his appeal is at times peculiar and irrational, you’d be hard put to find another Hollywood actor who has so thoroughly ingratiated themselves into the mainstream without sacrificing an ounce of their personality and character, and Action Point is further proof of just that.
Are you a Jackass fan? Do you intend on seeing Action Point? If so, let us know what you thought of the film below.
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