Jackass: it's here

At the softer end of the scale, there’s loading the pants with shrimps before diving into a shark-filled ocean, and clamping a tenacious baby alligator to the nipple.

But try keeping your eyes on the screen when Knoxville is subjected to ripping paper cuts in the webs between his fingers and toes. The audience hurt for him.

You have to have sympathy for the parents of this lot. Their tolerance beggars belief when Bam Margera gives his mum and dad an early morning wake-up call with a thunderous firework display - in their bedroom. Later he leaves a small surprise for his mother - a fully-grown alligator in the kitchen.

One of the highlights of the film has to be the swipe at middle-class golf players. When they’re repeatedly “distracted” from the perfect swing by an earsplitting horn toot they’re distinctly not amused. But rather than take it like the gents they proclaim to be and move on, they barely manage to control their rage as they fire balls at Knoxville and co before attempting to wring their necks.

Jelly belly? Be warned, this isn’t the most tasteful film. You’re likely to wretch alongside the characters as they “eat” their own urine, snort wasabi (a Japanese paste that packs a harder punch than the hottest chilli powder) and other acts too gross to mention here.

This shameless bunch will do anything for a stunt, from being beaten up by women and heavyweight boxers (landing in a hospital stint) to using toilets in a bathroom store to relieve themselves.

But it’s brilliant, it flies in the face of fear, authority and restraint and is well worth the experience. You’ll wish you could be that carefree at the end.

Jackass is out in the cinemas on February 28.