Minions & Jackass Bring Wacky Nostalgia to Western Slope Theaters

The air in the multiplex still holds the ghost of buttered popcorn and the low hum of anticipation, a sensory cocktail that has defined the moviegoing experience for decades. It is in this shared darkness that audiences gather to surrender to the whims of the silver screen, whether they are seeking the chaotic innocence of yellow, overalls-clad creatures or the visceral, bone-jarring pain of Johnny Knoxville falling off a mechanical bull. This week, two distinct flavors of entertainment arrive in local theaters, offering neighbors a choice between wacky nostalgia and a farewell tour for the boys of pain.

“Minions & Monsters” arrives not just as another entry in the animated franchise, but as a wacky love letter to old-school Hollywood. It feels less like a corporate product and more like a playful homage, one that dares to riff on “Citizen Kane” and echo “The Shape of Water” within the frantic energy of its tiny protagonists. The story follows a new group of Minions — similar in spirit, if not in exact identity, to those we’ve known for years — as they stumble into silent movie-era fame. When the advent of sound threatens to derail their careers, they must choose between chasing the Hollywood dream or finally finding the big boss they’ve been hunting. The result is a blend of classic slapstick and modern chaos, anchored by a running clown gag that feels strange but funny, and an ending that manages to be both absurd and oddly heartwarming. It is, quite simply, the best Minions-related movie since the original “Despicable Me,” proving that their brand of craziness is still worth the price of admission.

Meanwhile, “Jackass: Best and Last” offers a different kind of nostalgia, one tinged with the reality of aging bodies and enduring friendships. It is largely a greatest hits clip show, though it includes some previously un-aired gags that were legally barred from earlier broadcasts. For those who grew up with the series in college, the film serves as a victory lap, complete with new gags that play on the theme of “we’re getting old.” The gross-out humor remains, with plenty of vomit and bodily fluids, though the more violent stunts have been scaled back due to medical issues, most notably the brain hemorrhage Johnny Knoxville suffered in the last movie. His emotional reaction to saying goodbye to the series that defined so much of his life is genuine, yet the film could have used more reflection from the rest of the original team. The sweetness of the series lies in its friendships, and while this film captures that spirit, it stops short of fully exploring the changes in their lives since the beginning.

Both films offer something for the Western Slope viewer, whether you are looking for the pure, unadulterated joy of the Minions or the bittersweet farewell of the Jackass crew. The Minions’ antics are a delight, a reminder that sometimes the simplest chaos is the most entertaining. The Jackass film, while more of a clip show, provides a poignant look at a group of friends navigating the end of an era. It underscores the power of cinema to make us laugh, to make us cringe, and to make us feel the passage of time. As the lights come up and you step back into the bright Colorado sun, you might find yourself humming a Minion tune or remembering the last time you saw Knoxville take a hit to the head. The movies end, but the memories, like the smell of popcorn, linger.