As an avid fan of amusement parks, Action Park is one of the most controversial parks in the state of New Jersey and dangerous in the world. A park that in its heyday was was responsible for six deaths including three drownings in the Tidal Wave Pool and the death of a 27-year-old man who was electrocuted on the Kayak Experience when his boat tipped over and he came into contact with water that had a loose wire touching it. Read more horror stories here.
While the park has since opened under a new banner in 2014, Mountain Creek Waterpark, the reputation of its original namesake has yet to be forgotten. Fast forward to 2018 and Jackass’s Johnny Knoxville is bringing to light the chaos of Action Park and upping it to about a 100 with his latest film, Action Point.
While the film focuses on the fictional Action Point park, the similarities to Action Park and its competition are on full display. The popular cannonball loop, along with its competition, 7 parks, which for residents of New Jersey is eerie similar to Six Flags in Jackson and Action Park’s main attraction. The narrative is told through flashbacks of Knoxville in his well known “old man makeup” to his granddaughter. While this device works well in regards to setting up a purpose for this story to be told, the rest of the film, unfortunately, brings out the worst in the comedy genre.
While Action Park is well known for its danger. Action Point ups the hijinx and in doing so sacrifices the story of a father and daughter. The hijinx are done to show the dangers of Action Point but to aid the current nostalgia craze in tv and film and bring back the memories of the craziness seen in Knoxville’s Jackass many moons ago. SPOILER ALERT: IT’S NOT FUNNY.
Plain and simple, Action Point is an insult to those who were injured and to the families of those who died while at Action Park. Instead of focusing on bringing the story of Action Park to life with respect to those who suffered from the park’s careless nature, Knoxville obviously cares little about the story, plot devices, and creates a film made to amuse himself and friends.
The film is directed by first-time director Tim Kirkby, and boy does it show. There is no denying that Johnny Knoxville had a say as to where the film went and that could have deterred Kirkby from moving the film along in a different direction. Kirkby’s eventual goal may be to establish himself so well that most people forget this film was directed by him.
The biggest takeaway was the fact that this film which is intended to be a comedy, but instead Action Point feels more like a chore and a film that doesn’t really want you to enjoy yourself. A film that is meant to look as unbelievable as possible to take away any realism of the events that took place in New Jersey.
Action Point is as agonizing of a film experience I’ve had all year. A year that has already had its share of agonizing experiences with 50 Shades Freed leading the way. The story of Action Park deserved better and Action Point certainly was not that.
Reel Talk gives Action Point 1 Reel
