Johnny Knoxville: Johnny Knoxville is used to taking a beating for entertainment. The "Jackass" star has been knocked out by a professional boxer.
He's shot himself in the chest while wearing a worn bulletproof vest. He's even strapped himself to a rocket. That history made him well-suited for his latest role.
In "Tiny Fugitives," now playing in theaters, Knoxville plays Bob, an aging camp counselor.
A group of rebellious campers treats him like a human piñata throughout the film. A stunt double handled some of the riskiest moments.
Still, Knoxville took real hits on set. He told IndieWire he can barely recall which ones.
"I've had a lot of concussions," Knoxville said, searching for the most memorable stunt.
Director and co-writer Michael Lewen didn't need reminding. He recalled watching Knoxville get thrown through a bunkhouse wall and dragged on top of a moving car.
The film follows a group of foul-mouthed campers determined to stretch their summer indefinitely.
When they stage a breakout, Bob chases after them. He's outsmarted and battered at every turn.
Knoxville's "Jackass" background occasionally came in handy behind the scenes.
During a scene requiring his character to be electrocuted, Lewen asked him to exaggerate the shaking for dramatic effect.
Knoxville pushed back. He explained that real electrocution doesn't look the way movies portray it.
Lewen said he ended up taking direction from Knoxville's firsthand experience instead.
Casting real preteens, rather than young adults, was a priority for Lewen. He wanted the film's chaos to feel authentic.
He said the biggest challenge involved rigging 12-year-old actors on wires 40 feet in the air and lowering them safely to the ground.
Many young cast members performed their own stunts under close supervision.
Some of Knoxville's costars were already familiar with "Jackass." That surprised him, given the show's content.
At 55, Knoxville admitted the kids were more disciplined on set than he was.
He credited Lewen with casting a group of mischievous young actors who kept him on his toes throughout the shoot.
"Tiny Fugitives" draws comparisons to early-2000s R-rated comedies like "Superbad" and "Knocked Up."
That connection isn't accidental. Point Grey Pictures, the company co-founded by "Superbad" star Seth Rogen, produced the film.
Knoxville noted that studios have largely stepped away from theatrical comedies in recent years.
"There's a lot of fun police or joke police out there," he said, pointing to a broader cultural shift.
"Tiny Fugitives" is in theaters now.
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