'Jackass: Best and Last' celebrates 25 years of friendship

The latest installment, "Jackass: Best and Last," lives up to its title, marking the final film in the franchise. Co-creator Johnny Knoxville confirmed its conclusion while seated in an electric chair, a fittingly absurd end for a series that began as an MTV curiosity in 2000.

This final chapter is considered by many to be the best, not just for its stunts but for its profound expression of friendship and the shared experience of doing "ill-advised things with butts." While slightly tamer due to the cast's accumulated injuries, the film retains its signature daring-do, with plenty of rectal-related stunts, as fans have come to expect.

Director Jeff Tremaine delves into the "Jackass" archives, unearthing sketches, pranks, and stunts too edgy for television. The film opens with the very first "Jackass" bit from 1998, featuring Knoxville in a desert with a pistol and Kevlar vest. "Best and Last" masterfully blends new footage with these "greatest hits," including jaw-dropping, previously unseen gems involving celebrities, run-ins with the law, and a memorable performance from Knoxville's elderly alter ego, Irving Zisman.

The film's reflective nature is amplified by the passage of time and the aging of its cast. Clips featuring original cast member Ryan Dunn, who tragically died in a car accident in 2011, add a poignant layer to the celebration of enduring friendship. "Jackass: Best and Last" captures the youthful folly and vigor that defined the series, while also acknowledging the changes that come with growing older, finding beauty in the persistence of their outrageous, self-destructive activities.