Johnny Knoxville and his ragtag band join forces one final time to deliver the last instalment of the Jackass franchise.

It would be easy to write off a Jackass film as nothing more than a series of puerile practical jokes, but the reality is that it has always been about friendship, finding your tribe and, of course, occasionally getting launched into the air by a bucking bull. This final instalment is all the better for acknowledging the passing of time. There are several genuinely emotional moments as the hugely charismatic Knoxville and his friends come to terms with the fact that this will be the last time they put themselves through such ridiculous punishment. They never dwell on those moments for too long, but they give the film an emotional weight that catches you by surprise.

The format is a mixture of archival footage and new material, beginning with Knoxville’s very first stunt, one that was never originally aired. Watching a young Philip John “PJ” Clapp nervously prepare to shoot himself in the chest whilst wearing a Kevlar jacket padded with magazines is a strangely voyeuristic and exhilarating experience. You can almost see the moment Johnny Knoxville is born as fear gives way to excitement after he realises he has survived with nothing more than a hole in his T-shirt.

From there it is the familiar mixture of hilarity and wince-inducing insanity. But, once again, what makes it work is not the stunts themselves but the joy the group find in each other’s company whilst doing something completely ridiculous. Amidst the nudity, groin shots, bodily fluids and spectacular acts of self-inflicted stupidity sits a group of genuinely close friends whose affection for one another has always been the real heart of Jackass. That warmth extends beyond the performers to the crew behind the camera, who feel just as much a part of the family.

Jackass has always offered a wonderfully surreal viewing experience. You will laugh, wince and perhaps occasionally feel a little queasy, but what ultimately stays with you is not the pain or the spectacle. It is the camaraderie. Beneath all the chaos, the bruises and the juvenile humour is a celebration of genuine friendship, and that is what makes saying goodbye to this extraordinary group surprisingly emotional.