This movie could have been a lot funnier if only they didn't use almost the exact same dialogue from their prank calls. Seriously some of the scenes from the movie are almost word-for-word with the calls. If you haven't heard their "jerky-isms" (rubberbeck, sizzle-chest) then this might be funny to you. Anyway the movie is about two "low-lifes from Queens", two late-20's guys who can't get a job who still live at home. They end up calling a random number which just happens to be a local mob boss. Johnny Brennan does his hilarious Frank Rizzo voice claiming to be childhood friends with the guy who becomes infuriated after being called "fruity-a$$". (the only really funny scene.) Once they meet the boys in person, an arrogant local boy Brett Weir sees them at the same restaurant and clues the mafia in as to who the Jerky Boys really are. So the rest of the movie is basically them trying to outrun the mob. Some scenes following were okay, with a cameo by Ozzy Ozbourne and the NY hardcore band Helmet. In the end when the gang kidnaps Johnny's mom and fits her for a pair of cement shoes, Johnny and Kamal call the newspapers up to expose the mob. The end. A lot of people said the plot was clichéd. Not really, I thought it worked good, it just wasn't EXECUTED properly. And by properly, I mean humorously. The first time I heard the call about the old man with the Mexican immigrant worker it was funny. "I kicked him in his little hiney" The second time it seemed rushed, like they had to create a scene where the actions would fit perfectly with the call. This one happens to be made over a call box on a warehouse where the bad guys are standing near, to distract them while the boys escape. Some of the actors, who have played distinguished, critically-acclaimed roles in other movies (Alan Arkin, Vincent Pastore, William Hickey) seem like they're having a REAL hard time saying their lines. They must have needed money. I won't tell you not to see it, because as far as i know it has not been released on DVD. And I can guarantee you can find it for a buck or two at almost ANY movie store. So if you have or haven't heard the prank call albums but you still want to see it, you'll only be a few bucks short if you don't like it.
44 Reviews
Occasional laughs, but mostly a disappointing comedy starring a talented duo
Beta_Gallinger5 June 2010
The Jerky Boys are a famous comedy duo known for making prank calls which have been recorded and released on albums. I knew about them by the time I first came across a copy of this film for rent at a video store recently, but didn't know they had their own movie until then. Released in 1995, long before I was old enough to watch R-rated movies, "The Jerky Boys" is a comedy starring the two prank callers, John G. Brennan and Kamal Ahmed. By the time I watched this, I had heard many of their recorded prank calls (it seems they were falsely credited for several of the ones I heard, but most of them really were from the duo), and thought they were generally funny, but since I was aware of this film's lack of popularity, I wasn't surprised by its overall mediocrity.
Johnny B. and Kamal are two "lowlifes from Queens" who have been making prank telephone calls since they were kids. John's mother warned the two of them what they would be like when they grew up if they didn't change their ways, and sure enough, they have since grown up and turned out to be exactly what she predicted, two unemployed idiots still living at home. Making prank calls is still a major hobby of theirs, and they've had certain jobs in the past, but due to their stupidity and incompetence, they didn't have them for long. Unfortunately for Johnny and Kamal, their prank calling gets them into serious trouble when they call the local mafia and Johnny pretends to be a crime boss from Chicago named Frank Rizzo, and the two of them then pose as two of Rizzo's hoodlums when they go to meet members of the Queens mob in person! They soon find that not only are the local mafia after them, so are the police!
Shortly after I began to watch this 1995 flop, I did find myself laughing or at least smiling at times, but not enough to make me think it was a actually a good comedy, and I didn't care for the part with Johnny and Kamal (as kids) watching a boy getting in trouble with his mother after they prank called her, and what the mother says she'll do to her son when they get inside. None of the gags in this movie are among the most revolting I've ever seen, but one fairly lame scene is the one with hot dogs made from human bodies! Most of the film is basically just mediocre, unfunny, and boring. The plot also isn't that interesting, with the two pranksters getting into more and more trouble. I certainly did laugh at times, such as the drive-thru scene and the part where the main characters (the Jerky Boys playing themselves) steal a cab and Kamal poses as the cab driver. These laughs definitely weren't always just small ones, either. Still, for the vast majority of the film, I kept a straight face, and cannot give it a high rating.
This silly comedy was apparently panned by critics and seems to be fairly obscure, but it seems that some Jerky Boys fans like it. However, it also appears many of those who have seen it think it's atrocious, and I'm sure a number of the duo's fans have been disappointed by this movie of theirs. As someone who has never listened to any of their albums from start to finish but has heard enough of their recorded pranks individually to be convinced that they know how to be funny, I sure would have been disappointed if I had expected this film to be as good. Apart from occasional funny moments (some very funny and some mildly amusing) and a cameo appearance from Ozzy Osbourne as the Band Manager, there was hardly anything in 1995's "The Jerky Boys" (a.k.a. "The Jerky Boys: The Movie") that appealed to me. If you're not a Jerky Boys fan at all, I suggest you skip this film, and if you are a fan, I can't imagine how you could watch this without finding anything in it funny at all (though you never know), but don't be surprised if you find that it doesn't live up to the duo's audio recordings.
Johnny B. and Kamal are two "lowlifes from Queens" who have been making prank telephone calls since they were kids. John's mother warned the two of them what they would be like when they grew up if they didn't change their ways, and sure enough, they have since grown up and turned out to be exactly what she predicted, two unemployed idiots still living at home. Making prank calls is still a major hobby of theirs, and they've had certain jobs in the past, but due to their stupidity and incompetence, they didn't have them for long. Unfortunately for Johnny and Kamal, their prank calling gets them into serious trouble when they call the local mafia and Johnny pretends to be a crime boss from Chicago named Frank Rizzo, and the two of them then pose as two of Rizzo's hoodlums when they go to meet members of the Queens mob in person! They soon find that not only are the local mafia after them, so are the police!
Shortly after I began to watch this 1995 flop, I did find myself laughing or at least smiling at times, but not enough to make me think it was a actually a good comedy, and I didn't care for the part with Johnny and Kamal (as kids) watching a boy getting in trouble with his mother after they prank called her, and what the mother says she'll do to her son when they get inside. None of the gags in this movie are among the most revolting I've ever seen, but one fairly lame scene is the one with hot dogs made from human bodies! Most of the film is basically just mediocre, unfunny, and boring. The plot also isn't that interesting, with the two pranksters getting into more and more trouble. I certainly did laugh at times, such as the drive-thru scene and the part where the main characters (the Jerky Boys playing themselves) steal a cab and Kamal poses as the cab driver. These laughs definitely weren't always just small ones, either. Still, for the vast majority of the film, I kept a straight face, and cannot give it a high rating.
This silly comedy was apparently panned by critics and seems to be fairly obscure, but it seems that some Jerky Boys fans like it. However, it also appears many of those who have seen it think it's atrocious, and I'm sure a number of the duo's fans have been disappointed by this movie of theirs. As someone who has never listened to any of their albums from start to finish but has heard enough of their recorded pranks individually to be convinced that they know how to be funny, I sure would have been disappointed if I had expected this film to be as good. Apart from occasional funny moments (some very funny and some mildly amusing) and a cameo appearance from Ozzy Osbourne as the Band Manager, there was hardly anything in 1995's "The Jerky Boys" (a.k.a. "The Jerky Boys: The Movie") that appealed to me. If you're not a Jerky Boys fan at all, I suggest you skip this film, and if you are a fan, I can't imagine how you could watch this without finding anything in it funny at all (though you never know), but don't be surprised if you find that it doesn't live up to the duo's audio recordings.
Nothing really works that well, so seek out the recordings instead.
RatedVforVinny14 April 2020
Firstly I'm a huge 'Jerky Boy's' fan and their hilarious recordings (both on tape and CD), are historical; featuring the finest ever phone pranks. A film like this can never work because all of the once spontaneous jokes are staged, thus loses the whole point. The story is pretty weak to but on the plus side you do get to see them in person and contains some truly brilliant bands on the soundtrack ('Superchunk', 'House of Pain' and 'Helmet' etc). Also with the great acting talents of Alan Arkin but still falling way short of the real thing.
Funny Enough
weetsy14 February 2014
This was bottom of the barrel cinema when it came out. Its not anything you should really have high expectations for when you start into it. That being said, compared to the bottom of the comedy barrel these days this movie is a worthwhile and entertaining entry.
The supporting cast actually isn't too bad. Other reviewers have questioned the appearance of Alan Arkin in this film, and maybe it is weird, but whatever he's in it. So is Vincent Pastore ("Big Pussy" Bonpensiero from "The Sopranos") and cameos from Tom Jones and Ozzy Osbourne (a particularly rare depiction of him when he still had some vital essence left and decked out in appropriate mid-90's high fashion.)
Speaking of the the mid-90's, there's a lot of great footage of New York City in the years right before Giulianni started cleaning the place up.
Anyways, the movie is funny. Its not the funniest movie ever, but the ad hominem attacks, creative profanity, and silly voices will make you laugh. Its nice to see their skits made into live action, even though the real genius of their humor on their tapes was that the calls were real and the calls in the movie are scripted.
Its a solid B-grade comedy. If you're expecting more, you have the wrong idea.
The supporting cast actually isn't too bad. Other reviewers have questioned the appearance of Alan Arkin in this film, and maybe it is weird, but whatever he's in it. So is Vincent Pastore ("Big Pussy" Bonpensiero from "The Sopranos") and cameos from Tom Jones and Ozzy Osbourne (a particularly rare depiction of him when he still had some vital essence left and decked out in appropriate mid-90's high fashion.)
Speaking of the the mid-90's, there's a lot of great footage of New York City in the years right before Giulianni started cleaning the place up.
Anyways, the movie is funny. Its not the funniest movie ever, but the ad hominem attacks, creative profanity, and silly voices will make you laugh. Its nice to see their skits made into live action, even though the real genius of their humor on their tapes was that the calls were real and the calls in the movie are scripted.
Its a solid B-grade comedy. If you're expecting more, you have the wrong idea.
Only "Clifford" was worse...
Dolf11 June 2001
Some friends and I went in search of bad movies recently, and we stumbled upon a truly awful movie - "The Jerky Boys".
Whew - where to start? OK, let's start by saying that the Jerky Boys weren't that funny when they were doing phony phone calls let alone a movie. Hey guys, the whole reason why anyone found the phone pranks amusing is that real people didn't know you were goofing on them and their reactions to the goofing makes the bit funny. Now that we have actors saying whatever lines make the bit the most funny (at least funny to whatever hackneyed writer you used for this piece of garbage) - IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE. [sigh - will Hollywood never learn?]
Now on to some specific comments...
[SARCASM ALERT]
The Jerky Boys seem to love using certain words, chiefly the noun "lips" (which they pair with adjectives to form such memorable put downs like "liver lips" and "meat lips") and the adjective "sizzle" (which they couple with nouns to make even more memorable hilarity with taunts like "sizzle chest" and "sizzle neck"). To be honest, the most surprising thing in this film is that the obvious pairing of what I would think would be their favorite adjective/noun combination never took place. Alas, not hearing "sizzle lips" was a blow I could hardly recover from.
The few sight gags in this movie were so predictable (and so bad) that they almost leave you speechless (almost - see my friend's comment below). For example, when the Jerky Boys are locked in a meat locker by the mob and then try to escape out of a window (in a meat locker ?!? - pa-lease...) they turn to an] strings of hotdogs to use to repel down the building. One of my friends went so far as to shout "No, NO, NO F-ING WAY!" as soon as the Jerky Boys asked aloud how they would get down from their prison.
And poor, poor Alan Arkin. He must have been on some serious drugs to ever agree to do this film. (Did he ever read the script?) Arkin must have needed several months of rigorous therapy to recover from his participation in this abomination...
OK - I know you can't take a movie like "The Jerky Boys" too seriously, but honestly, a comedy should at least be funny. I'm not entirely positive, but I'm not sure if we ever laughed during the film at all - well, except maybe in disbelief at just how bad it really was. This film gets the rare honor of being one of the worst films I've ever seen - and I've seen a lot of 'em. Only Clifford (see my IMDB review on that one) was worse.
Whew - where to start? OK, let's start by saying that the Jerky Boys weren't that funny when they were doing phony phone calls let alone a movie. Hey guys, the whole reason why anyone found the phone pranks amusing is that real people didn't know you were goofing on them and their reactions to the goofing makes the bit funny. Now that we have actors saying whatever lines make the bit the most funny (at least funny to whatever hackneyed writer you used for this piece of garbage) - IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE. [sigh - will Hollywood never learn?]
Now on to some specific comments...
[SARCASM ALERT]
The Jerky Boys seem to love using certain words, chiefly the noun "lips" (which they pair with adjectives to form such memorable put downs like "liver lips" and "meat lips") and the adjective "sizzle" (which they couple with nouns to make even more memorable hilarity with taunts like "sizzle chest" and "sizzle neck"). To be honest, the most surprising thing in this film is that the obvious pairing of what I would think would be their favorite adjective/noun combination never took place. Alas, not hearing "sizzle lips" was a blow I could hardly recover from.
The few sight gags in this movie were so predictable (and so bad) that they almost leave you speechless (almost - see my friend's comment below). For example, when the Jerky Boys are locked in a meat locker by the mob and then try to escape out of a window (in a meat locker ?!? - pa-lease...) they turn to an] strings of hotdogs to use to repel down the building. One of my friends went so far as to shout "No, NO, NO F-ING WAY!" as soon as the Jerky Boys asked aloud how they would get down from their prison.
And poor, poor Alan Arkin. He must have been on some serious drugs to ever agree to do this film. (Did he ever read the script?) Arkin must have needed several months of rigorous therapy to recover from his participation in this abomination...
OK - I know you can't take a movie like "The Jerky Boys" too seriously, but honestly, a comedy should at least be funny. I'm not entirely positive, but I'm not sure if we ever laughed during the film at all - well, except maybe in disbelief at just how bad it really was. This film gets the rare honor of being one of the worst films I've ever seen - and I've seen a lot of 'em. Only Clifford (see my IMDB review on that one) was worse.
It's called "loses something in translation" - look into it
Mr Mauve27 February 1999
Whew, this is ultimately in the top two of my all time most feared and wretched films. I can't say whether it's #1 or #2 until Joel Schumacher decided to Batman 5 or not. On to the film at hand: When I find my self saying, as I walk out of the theater, "Gee, not even cameo appearances by Alan Arkin, Ozzy Osbourne and the minimalist punk-metal group Helmet made that movie watchable at all!", I feel the cold hand of evil around my heart. This movie could have been something if it had had a script... or sets, or even a clear sense of plot, but it didn't, so it wasn't. Rating: Manure (no stars)
We knew it had to happen sooner or later.
RueMorgue1 June 2000
Well, the summary says it all. When the Jerky Boys got popular in the early-mid 90's, we could see "spoof flick" written subliminally all over their CD covers. Personally, I find the Jerky Boys crude and off-color humor to be pretty good, when unleashed on unsuspecting businesses and John Doe's at home. And it's rumored that they get releases from these people before a bit makes it to a CD, so that makes it somewhat acceptable. These guys are like Alan Funt in the 90's.
However, this movie, while containing stupid hi-jinks and some of the prank calls along the lines of those found on the CD, just isn't funny. It's not even "so stupid it's funny" funny! Frankly, it's a bore. The plot is terrible, and often non-existent, there are certain comedy sections in the movie that contribute nothing to the non-existent plot and probably shouldn't be there, and Kamal adds absolutely nothing. (In my opinion, he doesn't add anything on the CD's, either. Kissel doesn't even hold a flame to Sol OR Jack Tors!)
Overall, don't bother. Only if you are a rabid Jerky Boys fan, own all the CD's, or consider yourself a phony-phone caller needing some pretty poor material, should you rent this movie. Heck, the funniest part of the whole film is the prank call to President Clinton at the end! (In case you were wondering, my final rating is based half on this particular prank call... the rest of the movie, frankly, doesn't deserve to be rated.)
My Rating: 5/5
However, this movie, while containing stupid hi-jinks and some of the prank calls along the lines of those found on the CD, just isn't funny. It's not even "so stupid it's funny" funny! Frankly, it's a bore. The plot is terrible, and often non-existent, there are certain comedy sections in the movie that contribute nothing to the non-existent plot and probably shouldn't be there, and Kamal adds absolutely nothing. (In my opinion, he doesn't add anything on the CD's, either. Kissel doesn't even hold a flame to Sol OR Jack Tors!)
Overall, don't bother. Only if you are a rabid Jerky Boys fan, own all the CD's, or consider yourself a phony-phone caller needing some pretty poor material, should you rent this movie. Heck, the funniest part of the whole film is the prank call to President Clinton at the end! (In case you were wondering, my final rating is based half on this particular prank call... the rest of the movie, frankly, doesn't deserve to be rated.)
My Rating: 5/5
so many people to blame, so little time
CamandtheCity26 November 2002
just think of it this way... If we lived in a world where everything was the opposite, it would be one of the finest movies ever made. But we live in the real world, so avoid it. If you must watch it, just mourn the loss of time and money and celluloid wasted on this.
Bad idea then, bad idea now
reddragonhero1724 November 2019
There are comedies that make you laugh, and then there are comedies that don't make you laugh and wonder how such an idea got off the ground in the first place and this one fits in the latter category. Two slovenly, not very intelligent, ne'er-do-well guys who do nothing but hassle people over the phone and in person just doesn't exactly feels like a funny idea in the first place. I don't like prank calls in the first place having received some myself in my life. I've even listened to few tracks from the CD's and I didn't laugh once as all I hear are racist caricatures and juvenile insults. There are more worthwhile ways of entertaining oneself than prank calls or movies about prank callers
stretch 22
lee_eisenberg14 July 2009
"The Jerky Boys" is mostly an excuse to be silly. The plot is that slackers Johnny and Kamal spend their lives making prank phone calls and inadvertently call a mob boss (Alan Arkin), pretending to be another mafioso, thereby starting a wacky chain of events. I actually thought that the best parts were the pranks. Still, the flick's an overall fun romp. Far from the funniest movie ever, but OK for a viewing. As it was, I saw this movie right after I first learned of Alan Arkin by seeing "Catch-22", so this was a real surprise. And now he's won an Oscar!
Anyway, pretty funny. Also starring William Hickey (the mob boss in "Prizzi's Honor" and the patriarch in "Mouse Hunt").
Anyway, pretty funny. Also starring William Hickey (the mob boss in "Prizzi's Honor" and the patriarch in "Mouse Hunt").
Quite a "niche" movie
dtburr15 July 2005
Simply stated, if you are a fan of the Jerky Boys from their CDs, and then perhaps watch this movie "just to see who these guys are", you will be entertained by some of the movie. If you are not a fan of the Jerky Boys -- or worse yet, have never heard their stuff -- you will be completely puzzled about why this thing was ever made or even what it is supposed to be. There is lame story buried under all the random bits, but that can't hold it together. Although it is nice to see Brett Weir finally get his, I would rather Sparky the Clown just stay in my imagination. (especially since on the album, the Sparky routine was hilarious)
I am a huge Jerky Boys fan and I still can't muster anything above a "5". In fact even if you are a Jerky Boys aficionado, it wouldn't hurt to have a few beers before watching this flick.
I am a huge Jerky Boys fan and I still can't muster anything above a "5". In fact even if you are a Jerky Boys aficionado, it wouldn't hurt to have a few beers before watching this flick.
A very funny comedy with an actual plot!
GCardieri16 February 2001
I enjoy a good comedy, but it must have a good plot. Dumb and Dumber and Road Trip are my two other favorite comedies. This film is not only damn hilarious, but it provides an awesome story. The mob elements arent cheesy either, they are actually pretty good.
I Liked It
CMRKeyboadist5 April 2006
Okay, I know this film is about as dumb as it gets but man did my friends and I get a laugh out of it. I started listening to the Jerky Boys many years ago and their first two audio recordings were some of the funniest stuff I ever heard (that and the Tube Bar recordings). When I heard a movie was actually coming out, I new it was going to be bad and filled up with old jokes from their earlier recordings. But that was what I was hoping for. I wasn't really looking for anything new, I was just looking for some live action versions of the calls, and that is basically what I got.
The story is Johnny and Kamal are two losers who have been hanging out since little kids making prank phone calls. They grow up and haven't changed a bit. One day they see an old school friend (not really a friend) who says he is working for the mafia. So what do Johnny and Kamal do? They call up this mob boss played by Alan Arkin. They say they were sent by Frank Rizzo and basically they completely make a fool of him. Well, the story continues like this and they get in all sorts of trouble and have to incorporate much of their alternate personalities to survive from being lynched by the mob at the end.
This is incredibly stupid, but a lot of fun. Don't expect to much out of the movie but if you are a fan you should get some laughs out of this. I give it a 7/10.
The story is Johnny and Kamal are two losers who have been hanging out since little kids making prank phone calls. They grow up and haven't changed a bit. One day they see an old school friend (not really a friend) who says he is working for the mafia. So what do Johnny and Kamal do? They call up this mob boss played by Alan Arkin. They say they were sent by Frank Rizzo and basically they completely make a fool of him. Well, the story continues like this and they get in all sorts of trouble and have to incorporate much of their alternate personalities to survive from being lynched by the mob at the end.
This is incredibly stupid, but a lot of fun. Don't expect to much out of the movie but if you are a fan you should get some laughs out of this. I give it a 7/10.
As bad as any movie ever made.
JohnPhelan11 May 2002
Some movies are good bad, like Plan Nine from Outer Space. Some are bad bad. This pathetic thing would have to improve a great deal to even be considered bad. This is not a movie to set lightly aside; it should be hurled away with great force.
Best Left to Audio
harvurd4 June 2001
Yeah, this is a moronic movie. For those who haven't heard the boys' prank calls (which I find funny, and even sometimes clever), their jokes will fall pretty flat. They just don't work on-screen. And for those of us who HAVE heard their old stuff, the movie serves as a rehash and seems "old hat." The only reason I rented this was to get a look at the faces behind the voices--doesn't Johnny B. look like a chubby Sean Astin with a mullet-like hairdo? Stick to their audio-only work.
Irritating
bstrah20 February 2019
The Jerky Boys fail to transition to film in this harmless misfire that doesn't play to the duo's strengths and core appeal of their act
IonicBreezeMachine12 November 2022
Two life long slackers from Queens, New York, Johnny and Kamal (Johnny Brennan and Kamal Ahmed) have spent the past 20 years since their childhood friendship sponging off Johnny's long suffering mother Mrs. B. (Suzanne Shepherd) and making prank calls when not being fired from an ever increasing list of jobs. When the duo's smug childhood nemesis Brett Weir (James Lorinz) tells the two he's now working for mob boss Ernie Lazzaro (Alan Arkin) the two after a failed attempt to curry favor with Weir's name decide to crank call under the alias of "Frank Rizzo" a Chicago mob boss who convinces Lazzaro's crime family to take in Johnny and Kamal to lavish trappings, but the duo's antics soon spiral out of their control.
The Jerky Boys are a comedic duo consisting of Johnny Brennan and Kamal Ahmed, two childhood friends who during their time as unemployed construction workers produced a number of bootleg tapes of the two answering want ads or contacting random strangers while spouting ridiculous nonsense in silly voices. The bootlegs eventually found their way to shock jock Howard Stern who played the duo's on air and gave them the clout they needed to release their first self titled album The Jerky Boys in 1993 which eventually went platinum. Joe Roth then of Caravan Pictures came across the duo after listening to their tape brought in by then Caravan intern Johnathan Glickman and Roth loved the tape and signed the duo to a deal for a feature film believing the duo could be the 90s Cheech and Chong. The screenplay was co-written by Brennan and Ahmed with addition work done by James Melkonian and Rich Wilkes (the former also serving as director) who'd previously collaborated on The Stoned Age. Upon release the film underperformed as while the film opened at a not terrible third place in its opening weekend, the film very quickly dropped to ninth place the following weekend and was pulled from theaters after two weeks making only $7.6 million against an estimated $8 million budget. Critical reception wasn't much better with a number of critics such as Gene Siskel placing the film on their worst of lists. The Jerky Boys isn't the worst transition I've seen from comedian to film star, but the movie doesn't seem to understand why the tapes worked.
The biggest issue with the movie is the fact you have two comedians, John Brennan and Kamal Ahmed, who are known for their exaggerated voices and delivery of exaggerated nonsense that was bounced off against real-life people to genuine reaction. The big selling point of The Jerky Boys tapes was that these were real people being called and listening to their reactions at John and Kamal's nonsense and vulgarity helped to make them as funny and endearing as they were. In many ways you can see The Jerky Boys as a foundation for similar "man on the street" type reaction comedies like The Tom Green Show, Jackass, or the works of Sacha Baron Cohen. The movie basically strings together the duo's "best of" gags into a narrative with lines about "All my glasses and shoes" or the "Egyptian magician" now translated from the original prank call tapes into scripted and acted sections and it just doesn't work because John and Kamal are big exaggerated personalities and they're now playing against big exaggerated mafia stereotypes so the reaction isn't as funny as it was when the duo were calling actual people. When the movie was first announced, it was pretty much admitted they were going to write a movie around the Jerky Boys' crank calls, but the movie runs into problems with that and the mafia plot just doesn't work to their strengths as comedians and it's just a generic mistaken identity comedy.
The Jerky Boys: The Movie is the kind of failure you get when transitioning from one medium to another. While the unscripted reactions of real-life people made the Jerky Boys tapes endearing classics, The Jerky Boys: The Movie thinks the concept of the prank calls themselves were funny and simply takes oft quoted lines from the tapes and daisy chains them into a not particularly funny or interesting mafia farce. For Jerky Boys completionists only and even then there's better material from the duo.
The Jerky Boys are a comedic duo consisting of Johnny Brennan and Kamal Ahmed, two childhood friends who during their time as unemployed construction workers produced a number of bootleg tapes of the two answering want ads or contacting random strangers while spouting ridiculous nonsense in silly voices. The bootlegs eventually found their way to shock jock Howard Stern who played the duo's on air and gave them the clout they needed to release their first self titled album The Jerky Boys in 1993 which eventually went platinum. Joe Roth then of Caravan Pictures came across the duo after listening to their tape brought in by then Caravan intern Johnathan Glickman and Roth loved the tape and signed the duo to a deal for a feature film believing the duo could be the 90s Cheech and Chong. The screenplay was co-written by Brennan and Ahmed with addition work done by James Melkonian and Rich Wilkes (the former also serving as director) who'd previously collaborated on The Stoned Age. Upon release the film underperformed as while the film opened at a not terrible third place in its opening weekend, the film very quickly dropped to ninth place the following weekend and was pulled from theaters after two weeks making only $7.6 million against an estimated $8 million budget. Critical reception wasn't much better with a number of critics such as Gene Siskel placing the film on their worst of lists. The Jerky Boys isn't the worst transition I've seen from comedian to film star, but the movie doesn't seem to understand why the tapes worked.
The biggest issue with the movie is the fact you have two comedians, John Brennan and Kamal Ahmed, who are known for their exaggerated voices and delivery of exaggerated nonsense that was bounced off against real-life people to genuine reaction. The big selling point of The Jerky Boys tapes was that these were real people being called and listening to their reactions at John and Kamal's nonsense and vulgarity helped to make them as funny and endearing as they were. In many ways you can see The Jerky Boys as a foundation for similar "man on the street" type reaction comedies like The Tom Green Show, Jackass, or the works of Sacha Baron Cohen. The movie basically strings together the duo's "best of" gags into a narrative with lines about "All my glasses and shoes" or the "Egyptian magician" now translated from the original prank call tapes into scripted and acted sections and it just doesn't work because John and Kamal are big exaggerated personalities and they're now playing against big exaggerated mafia stereotypes so the reaction isn't as funny as it was when the duo were calling actual people. When the movie was first announced, it was pretty much admitted they were going to write a movie around the Jerky Boys' crank calls, but the movie runs into problems with that and the mafia plot just doesn't work to their strengths as comedians and it's just a generic mistaken identity comedy.
The Jerky Boys: The Movie is the kind of failure you get when transitioning from one medium to another. While the unscripted reactions of real-life people made the Jerky Boys tapes endearing classics, The Jerky Boys: The Movie thinks the concept of the prank calls themselves were funny and simply takes oft quoted lines from the tapes and daisy chains them into a not particularly funny or interesting mafia farce. For Jerky Boys completionists only and even then there's better material from the duo.
Shockingly bad
johnqadamsiii18 May 2012
This film is really pretty awful, but whatever feelings of 'shockingly bad' are generally overcome by mundanity (in other words, it is not a 'so bad it's good' kind of film, rather it's one that continually leaves a question mark in the back of the mind, and as a result perhaps it's why I sat watching the film to end, curious as to just how the train wreck would wrap itself up). I recall laughing at the pranks as a 20- something, but whatever creativity that was present in the original tapes it not present in the movie. Every joke and every scene is so contrived that it is a wonder at all that Alan Arkin agreed to take part in the "romp".
I'll give the film a little credit for offering a couple of laughs, but it is nowhere near enough to excuse itself for somehow wriggling its way into existence. As someone else alluded, this creation exists solely because some executive heard the product, thought of the genius concept "movie" and immediately saw dollar signs.
As for character development, it is of course non-existent, as the shorter, mullet-toting John Brennan generally finds himself spewing animosity to anyone and everyone in an awkwardly driven attempt to rehash nicknames and one-liners from the old tapes. Kamal shares less lines and mostly acts as the naive, passive sidekick stumbling into an absurd scenario involving mafia, sausages and lots of running away that ultimately makes no sense. Each scene is set up to derive from the previously established pranks in such a way that we always see the joke coming from a mile away.
I am at a bit of a loss as to how glowing some of these opinions are. All i can say is I hope the reviewers were either really stoned while watching this one or mistakenly watching a different movie altogether. But to each his own.
Bonus: William Hickey playing Don 'Uncle Freddy' Frederico
I'll give the film a little credit for offering a couple of laughs, but it is nowhere near enough to excuse itself for somehow wriggling its way into existence. As someone else alluded, this creation exists solely because some executive heard the product, thought of the genius concept "movie" and immediately saw dollar signs.
As for character development, it is of course non-existent, as the shorter, mullet-toting John Brennan generally finds himself spewing animosity to anyone and everyone in an awkwardly driven attempt to rehash nicknames and one-liners from the old tapes. Kamal shares less lines and mostly acts as the naive, passive sidekick stumbling into an absurd scenario involving mafia, sausages and lots of running away that ultimately makes no sense. Each scene is set up to derive from the previously established pranks in such a way that we always see the joke coming from a mile away.
I am at a bit of a loss as to how glowing some of these opinions are. All i can say is I hope the reviewers were either really stoned while watching this one or mistakenly watching a different movie altogether. But to each his own.
Bonus: William Hickey playing Don 'Uncle Freddy' Frederico
Immature and offensive.
williamnelson-8997019 March 2020
Immature and offensive, if you are easily offended or a man on your period. You can either man up or plug it up with a tampon "Sally". It's got a few classic scenes and ton of crude jokes you'll tell to your
Co-workers at the water cooler. You'll laugh so hard you'll want to put some bologna in their lunchbox
A highly Underrated watch, hilarious in parts
Angel-Shadow26 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
To be fair the title itself doesn't really get this film off to the best of starts and i was not really impressed by the DVD case or anything about it, however never judge a book by its cover, as i came to find out. The jerky boys main strength lies in the quality of 'Gangster accents'' portrayed by the lead characters. The whole idea of two 30 year old men sitting round making obscene and very funny phone calls all day would in principle sound like an unattractive watch. In saying this though the jerky boys has some hilarious moments which left me and my father in fits of laughter, (no exaggeration),. IN terms of a plot the jerky boys doesn't come off so well which is why all included i feel it overall deserves a 6. To conclude if your looking for a quick laugh, nothing special or something funny to watch with friends I highly recommend the jerky boys.
Two out of work pranksters. Pull one prank too many when they get mixed up in the mob.
MiracleMaddox25 March 2001
This movie will have you laughing out of your A$$!!!. The Jerky boys bring their weird sense of humor to new heights in this low budget movie. This movie isnt for everyone and its definitely not a family film. If your are bored on a Saturday afternoon go to the video store and rent this. You wont regret. I give this movie an 8 out 10 rating.
not the best, but u know what? not bad either.
departed078 July 2003
I laughed my ass off when I first saw this flick in middle school, and i still see it today. This was the funniest flick ever, with some of the grossest punchlines ever.
I'm gonna give a 3 star rating for just being damn funny.
I'm gonna give a 3 star rating for just being damn funny.
An Insult to their fans
genius-152 October 1999
The Jerky Boys first audio tape was a huge success, and I enjoyed many hours of laughs from it. The second audio tape wasn't as funny, but still had some great jokes, and I never listened to any more after that. But I saw the movie on video, and boy was it bad. It was just the same jokes from the first tape, only not as funny. And the token plot, ughh. They wouldve been better off just showing them make the calls. Alan Arkin as a mafioso????? A psychiatrist, yes (see Grosse Point Blank) but he went beyond miscast here. Everyone I know who saw this film thought it was bad, but the ones who never heard the tapes before thought it was somewhat funny, while fans of the Jerky Boys expected a whole lot more. Now Johnny and Kamal's 15 minutes of fame are up, but at least they had a good run (Perhaps they'll make a comeback someday).
Read This Review Or I'll Wrap Your Head In A Ratchet!
blwnfant30 September 2014
Man, at the time this movie came out I had already been a fan of the "Boys" for several years. To me these guys will always be the Kings of the prank call. I was literally in tears when I first heard the albums; so when I heard about a movie coming out I was psyched! I learned the movie was going to be a PG-13 and I was a little disappointed because the "Boys" are known for vulgarity. Upon seeing the movie I was entertained, it certainly had its funny moments. I believe you have to go in having an open mind. It is a movie with a plot, so their normal comedy of getting unsuspecting people is not there. I think they do a good job at comedy and the movie overall is funny, I think a lot of people expected their normal stuff but this was an attempt to broadening their audience and take them into the real"mainstream." If your a die-hard Jerky fan, I think you will enjoy it and if you like comedies I believe you will enjoy it. If your expecting for it to be just like the tapes then you will be disappointed. Aside from a couple of my favorite characters missing I enjoyed it, laughed, and will watch again.
Jerk!
gokeymichael8 July 2018
If you were hip to the boys back in the day doing their prank calls, then you will love this movie. They were just ahead of the tech age that would have made their phone calls a lot more problematic, legally. Just before caller ID was a basic in all homes, the Jerky Boys made their way from home to home and business to business making me laugh my ass off. The characters these guy created sting ring in my ears. The catch phrases and insults. Beautiful. If you can appreciate dumb humor then you may end up loving this movie. If you are a hater of movies like Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura, Little Nicky, etc... then don't bother. You won't laugh and you will end up coming here and putting the boys down. Then I'll have to split you from your nuts to the back of your ass as Johnny once said. Dont worry Bottle Nose, you'll love it or else!
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