Whatever your entertainment needs, we got your back (and hopefully your mind) with Queerty’s weekly “Culture Club” column with some of the highlights of new releases, streaming shows, classics worth revisiting, and what to drink while you watch.
The Schadenfreude: Jackass Forever
Sir Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Danger Ehren, Wee Man and the Jackass crew return for this fourth cinematic outing in the we can’t believe they’re still at it franchise. As with all things Jackass, Knoxville & co. find no shortage of creative ways to inflict pain on themselves, or to engage in very homoerotic situations. Oh, and this latest installment also features a lot of full-frontal male nudity as the guys casually “adjust” one another.
With the original gang pushing 50, and given their copious cybernetic enhancements due to injury over the years, this new movie also introduces a “next-generation” cast, mentored by the OG. And, in a delightful twist, the newbies diversify the ranks. That includes Zach Holmes, a full-figured man with a pride flag penis tattoo, and ink on his back that reads “I love fat d*ck.” We don’t know if that means he’s queer…but it makes for a pretty good case. Holmes also takes part in our favorite stunt in the film, a beanbag prank involving an elderly Knoxville and a furniture store. Tyler the Creator and Machine Gun Kelly also cameo.
We feel a little guilty recommending the Jackass series to our readers for its mix of bromoeroticism and squirmy humor…but just a little. For better or worse, movies rarely get this visceral.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In theatres February 4.
The Catch: Oscar Nominations 2022
Awards season has arrived once again, and thank goodness movies in 2021 were much more fun and better crafted than the year before. That should make this year’s Oscar race much more interesting than last year’s snoozefest, the highlight of which involved Glenn Close doing “Da Butt.” So, will this year finally be Will Smith’s big year? Could Frances McDormand win again? Will Spidey show up alongside Timothée Chalemet’s giant worm? Let the speculation begin with the nominations, coming this February 8.
Streams live at 5am PST on February 8.
The Quickie: Coded
Speaking of Oscars, the wonderful Ryan White enters the Best Live Action Short race with this nibble, the story of gay artist J.C. Leyendecker. In the 1920s, Leyendecker’s drawings of perfect male bodies (albeit clothed bodies) made him into an international sensation, especially as he began drawing cover art for The Saturday Evening Post. The short also dives into Leyendecker’s longtime relationship with boyfriend/model Charles Beach. White tells the story through narration provided by Neil Patrick Harris, and through the eyes of trailblazing trans model Jari Jones, who talks about the importance of queer iconography in pop culture, even on a subliminal level. It’s a fascinating glance at LGBTQ history, and a loving tribute to a near-forgotten artist.
Streams on Paramount+.
The Jam: Trixie Mattel “This Town”
Drag star cum-recording artist Trixie Mattel drops her latest single this week, possibly her most mature and introspective to date. Far from a glamorous drag video, “This Town” features archival footage of Trixe as a young boy, then just known as Brian Firkus. The gentle folk strains of the song evoke a sense of tenderness and nostalgia, as Mattel reflects on growing up gay in the rural city of Wausaukee, Wisconsin. We get the sense that Mattel has a great deal of affection for his modest beginnings, even if he has since transcended them, and even if he had a troubled upbringing. And yes, it still feels like home.
Streams on YouTube.
The Drag: America Needs a Queen
Still terrified at the prospect of Republican control? That just means you have a pulse.
For anyone caught up in the anxiety of it all, don’t worry: drag queens are coming to save the day. America Needs a Queen sees the combined forces of Detox, Alaska, Milk and a host of other queens competing in a series of sporting and performance events to raise money for progressive causes, candidates and to register new voters. We’ve never seen a political rally quite like this one before, and we have a feeling you haven’t, either. Help protect democracy and all our futures by joining in the glitz and hilarity.
Streams February 3 at 8pm PST on Zoom & Twitch. Tickets available online.
The Sip: Moscow Mule
Given Russia’s incursion into Ukraine and the debut of a fourth Jackass film, how could we recommend anything else? Flavorful, trendy and potent, it’s exactly the kind of drink we need given current events…or the sight of the Jackass kids using a pogo stick on each other’s testicles.
Pour ingredients into a copper mug over ice. Stir well, add lime wedge for garnish.
markporter
Wausaukee, Wisconsin? Let’s try Waukesha, Wisconsin instead…just sayin’… 😉
MISTERJETT
we knew what they meant. just saying.
kookachoo
Trixie grew up in Wausaukee, not Waukesha. Two different towns in different parts of the state. I grew up in Northeast WI and know both places well… just saying
Mark Behar
Wausaukee is a village in Marinette County, Wisconsin, in the United States.
Mostlikelytobedownvoted
File this under: Tell me you’re not from Wisconsin without telling me you’re not from Wisconsin.
moretruth
J.C. Leyendecker was gay man. Why is his story told by a transsexual woman? J.C. Leyendecker was a gay white man, in a gay relationship with a white man.. He drew male bodies. The uproar if a trans female artist was was profiled by a gay white man would be deafening.
Joshooeerr
I agree. That said, it’s a good doco. And Leyendecker deserves wider recognition.
theherald
What is wrong with you? Since when do documentary narrators have to be the same gender/sexuality as their subjects? That’s just bizarre.
Kangol2
@moretruth, what are you, some sort of gay White supremacist? A BIPOC trans woman can’t narrate a documentary about a gay White man? Please get help for your racism and transphobia!
friendlymcface
It would depend on who the gay white man was…
Ronbo
Kangol2, Moretruth seems to be making light of our community’s outspoken youth who make silly demands like demanding that only gay actors play gay parts. Only trans actors can play trans parts. Only Cubans can play Cuban parts. Etc….
But naturally in your mind, moretruth is a “white supremacist”? I think you two are on the same page. Remember to NOT hate-read. Reactive emotions can overwhelm – I’ve been in the same boat.
Jaquelope
Personally, it doesn’t matter how much full-frontal male nudity there might be, I wouldn’t watch a “Jackass” movie if I was given a million dollars and a fully paid for cruise ticket to watch it. Slapstick is one thing, but those kinds of pranks are not considered to be funny by any means, and I find the people who find them funny to be annoying and obnoxious.
Ken A.
They’re stupidly amusing, that unfortunately gave birth to numerous jackass imitators on YOUTUBE often with disastrous consequences,
Ronbo
Well aren’t you special – just the bee’s knees!
My husband and I spend a day in Italy at the Black C*ck and Jackass was on TV – it was amazing how stupid male humor brought the different cultures together. I can still hear the roaring laughter and feel the kinship.
Those who are open and accepting of others definitely have more fun.
Ken A.
“Elderly Knoxville” He’s only 50 that is hardly elderly. Steve-O is 47. If 50 is elderly, that make 25 middle age. LOL
nm4047
25 is middle aged in gay years. 🙂
mujerado
@nm4047 No, it’s not “middle age in gay years.” There are a lot of us around over 60 and 70 (I’m 75). We’ve been protesting and voting and working to make things better for gay kids for a long time. Our young generations know precious little about gays in history and how it used to be for us.
Ronbo
mujerado – thank you for your service. I’m certain that you have war stories that would scare some of these kids back into the closet. An inadvertant pronoun throws some into a tizzy.
Please speak to the censorship in the past which was used against us to keep us quiet and in the closet. I see a mixed-up desire right HERE to censor others. They don’t understand that more speech is the answer to our problems – actual communication, not name-calling and insults. Visability and free speech don’t always win the day – but they did win the war.
Again, thank you for the bravery of not just surviving – but making things better for all of us. Courage is the bravery to tell the truth even if people don’t want to here the actual truth.
Mark Behar
If “25 is middle age in gay years.” (according to nm4047), than as a 70+ y/o gay man, I must be a real dinosaur! Forget about Growlr, Silverdaddies, or Scruff, guys, the new app is “TRex”!!
Mostlikelytobedownvoted
@ Mark B- …but are you a T.Rex or an Ankylosaurus??