Impractical Jokers Parent Guide

The Impractical Jokers have been pulling pranks on each other for years- since the early 90s, in fact. Starting with a major mishap at a Paula Abdul concert, the four troublemakers have been making a living out of publicly humiliating themselves and others. But when they run into Paula Abdul at a Red Lobster and she invites them to a huge party in Miami, the jokers see an opportunity to redeem their behavior at her concert all those years ago. The only downside? She left them only three tickets. To determine who has to stay behind, the pranksters embark on a road trip from New York to Miami, playing hidden camera jokes all the way. Whoever has the least successful pranks will have to miss the epic event.

Surrounded by this awkwardly scripted frame narrative involving Paula Abdul, the jokesters ramble around the east coast, causing trouble wherever they land. Their hidden camera pranks, which are rarely funny, involve a number of unsavory elements, from male nudity to children in strip clubs. Accompanying this is enough profanity to make 13 year olds giggle, but not enough to push the production into a Restricted rating.

I should start with a disclaimer: I’ve never sat down and watched the show which preceded this unfortunate cinematic misadventure. I have, however, watched some highlight clips, and they seem to be in much the same vein. If you liked the show, I’m sure you’ll love the movie. It has the same juvenile irreverence the whole way through. Me? I would rather have spent that 90 minutes buried up to my neck in cockroaches.

I don’t know who the target audience is for this, but I’m definitely not part of it. Judging by the “humor” displayed, I’m picturing a gaggle of over-excited 13-year-olds or drunken frat boys. I’m sure they’d love it from start to finish. Although, were I one of their unfortunate parents, I don’t know that I’d want them to watch it. Neither group needs the kind of encouragement this movie provides.