Impractical Jokers: The Movie (2020)    truTV/Comedy    RT: 93 minutes    Rated PG-13 (suggestive content, language, some drug references, brief nudity)    Director: Chris Henchy    Screenplay: Chris Henchy, Joe Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn and Sal Vulcano    Music: Leo Birenberg, Paul Jones and Zach Robinson    Release date: February 21, 2020 (US)    Cast: Brian Quinn, Joe Gatto, James Murray, Sal Vulcano, Paula Abdul, Jaden Smith, Josh Turner, Kane Hodder, Joey Fatone.    Box Office: $10.7M (US)

Rating: * ½

 I never knew the TV show Impractical Jokers even existed until I saw Impractical Jokers: The Movie on the schedule at my local multiplex. I avoid reality TV like the plague; I’ll never understand why people find stupid shows about stupid (real) people so entertaining. ANYWAY, I watched the trailer to get an idea of what to expect. My take-away was this: it’s Jackass (minus the bodily injuries and graphic nudity) for the PG-13 set with elements of Candid Camera and The Jerky Boys thrown in. It didn’t fill me with a lot of promise.

 Plot takes a back seat to premise in Impractical Jokers: The Movie, but I expected as much. Since it’ll take less time to describe the movie’s meager plot, I’ll start by explaining the premise for the benefit of those who’ve never watched or heard of the show. Four guys from Staten Island, NY- Q (Quinn), Joe (Gatto), Murr (Murray) and Sal (Vulcano)- play harmless pranks on unsuspecting people in public places. One “Joker” does the work while the other three feed him prompts and instructions through an earpiece. Hidden cameras capture the action. Each Joker takes a shot at the prank. Upon completion, they either get a thumbs up or thumbs down depending on how successful they were.

 Now for the plot which isn’t really much. It’s a road trip movie with pranks. The guys head to Miami (in Sal’s grandmother’s old car, a Crown Vic) to attend a lavish party given by singer Paula Abdul. Of course, they have a history. In 1994, they ruined her concert with one of their dumb pranks. She angrily vows revenge. In a turn that defies all logic, she doesn’t recognize them as her sworn enemies when she encounters them at a Red Lobster 25 years later. She does recognize them as the stars of one of her favorite shows except for the fifth season (?). She invites them to her party, but only gives them three passes. They decide to compete in a prank off (?) to see who gets left out.

 About midway through Impractical Jokers: The Movie, I commented loud enough for all to hear, “Wow, these guys are really annoying!” I don’t normally engage in disruptive behavior at the movies, but it needed to be said. I’m told the show has a large fan base which only confirms everything I said about the dumbing down of society. I’m ashamed to admit I chuckled a few times, but it was more for the stupidity of it all than anything in the movie actually being funny. Okay, maybe the bit with Sal at the social media conference was mildly amusing, but the rest of it is stupid shenanigans being perpetrated by men-children with a collective mental age of 16.

 I wouldn’t necessarily say Impractical Jokers: The Movie is poorly made. It’s more about the laziness of it. It would be one thing if the Jokers tried too hard for laughs. They don’t, not really. At the same time, it’s like they didn’t put a lot of thought into most of what they do over the course of 93 patience-trying minutes. A few of their pranks seem too elaborate and costly for four guys from Staten Island. How did they ever get Jaden Smith to participate in a turnabout prank on Sal? He must be a big fan of the show; it’s the only reason I can think of. As for Abdul, my guess is that she craves the attention she used to get as the spaced-out judge on American Idol. I think the best thing to do is NOT try to apply logic to any aspect of Impractical Jokers: The Movie. Even the best philosopher will have a hard time coming up with any answers regarding this movie.

 Here’s the weird part about my not liking Impractical Jokers: The Movie. I thoroughly enjoyed Jackass: The Movie back in 2002. Yes, Johnny Knoxville and his buddies are grossly immature. Yes, the movie has ZERO plot. It’s basically a series of dumb (and usually painful) stunts performed by one cast member while the others stand around laughing like fools. I don’t know why, but it just struck me funny. It still does to some extent. So why am I so turned off by Impractical Jokers: The Movie? Those guys do almost the same thing as Knoxville and company. They even stand around and laugh while one of them tries to pull off a prank successfully. It’s possible my tolerance for idiotic behavior has lessened with age. If that’s the case, why do I still laugh at Beavis & Butthead?

 For me, the experience of watching Impractical Jokers: The Movie was like when I saw Reno 911: Miami at the movies. Based on another show I never watched, I HATED it. I didn’t laugh once. I damn near barfed at that bit with the beached whale. While I don’t hate Impractical Jokers: The Movie quite as much, it’s still a movie I wished I skipped. Well, you know what they say about hindsight being 20/20.