"Team America: World Police" is the funniest movie of theyear.
It's not quite clear why, but there's something painfullyhilarious about wooden marionettes fighting terrorists, performingsexual acts on each other, and cursing liberally.
On second thought, maybe it is clear why it's so funny.
We first meet Team America as they annihilate terrorists inParis, demolishing the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in the process.We're then introduced to Gary Johnston, the handsome star of"Lease: The Musical," as he closes out another show with a rousingrendition of "Everyone Has AIDS."
Eventually Gary is recruited for the Team, and they spend thenext hour trying to stop the evil (and lonely) North Koreandictator Kim Jong Il and his terrorist allies from using weapons ofmass destruction.
During their battles to prevent the attacks, for which theirrally cry is "Let's go police the world!" Team America comes underscrutiny for their wholesale destruction of cities and landmarksalike in the name of freedom.
Leading the campaign against Team America is the Film ActorsGuild, led by Alec Baldwin. With other outspoken anti-war actorssuch as Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Helen Hunt, the Guildunwittingly backs Kim Jong Il's calls for a peace summit. MichaelMoore, sporting mustard stains and half-eaten hot dogs, is alsocalled in to rally against the World Police.
After disaster befalls the Team, it is left up to newest memberGary to rescue them from Jong Il's torture cells and spare theworld from the North Korean's dastardly plot.
Directed, written, and largely voiced by "South Park" creatorsMatt Stone and Trey Parker, "Team America" is a breath of fresh airin the stagnant political rancor dividing the country.
The duo, always eager to ridicule those who take themselves tooseriously, actually have a point to make with their wooden actors;they seem equally distressed by the arrogant self-righteousattitude of the film's heroes as they are with the Hollywood actorswho take it upon themselves to join the political fracas.
Pointed political commentary isn't new territory for the pair."South Park," since its first season on Comedy Central in 1997, hasnever shied away from controversial issues. From SARS, to theMonica Lewinsky scandal, to "The Passion of the Christ," "SouthPark" has managed to ridicule just about everything.
Noticeably absent from the film, however, are Senator John Kerryand President George W. Bush. Perhaps Stone and Parker felt thatthat was territory too well covered, or maybe even too easy toridicule.
Following their long controversial tradition of pushing ratingsto the limit, the film was on the verge of acquiring an NC-17rating, usually reserved for late night Showtime movies and"Showgirls."
At issue was the sex scene between Team America puppets Gary andLisa, originally reported to be almost five minutes long, whichrequired nine different edits to be approved as merely 'R'rated.
Even in the 'cleaner' version, the two puppets, both lackinggenitals, mange to perform coitus in just about every possibleposition.
Hilariously, the puppets' strings and open joints are clearlyvisible throughout. Clearly poking fun at the Motion PictureAssociation, the film reports to be rated R for "graphic, crude andsexual humor, violent images and strong language, all involvingpuppets."
Beyond their political commentary, the creators have been knownto effectively incorporate hilarious songs in their shows andfilms. The song "Blame Canada," from 1999's feature film/musical"South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut," was even nominated for anOscar. "Team America" is no different.
From the movie's theme song, "America! Fuck Yeah!," to Kim JongIl's ballad "I'm So Lonely," Stone and Parker have once againproven their musical talent.
Part of the duo's genius is in their methods. The distinctiveconstruction paper design of "South Park" is at the same time lowbudget and strikingly effective. Likewise, their use of puppets inthe computer era, although not as cheap, is certainly asinventive.
Indeed, in their attempts to mock and avoid the flood ofcomputer animation, Stone and Parker create some of the mostimpressive art in movie making.
The marionettes in "Team America" are truly striking; thestreets and people of cities from Paris to Cairo strikinglyreproduced.
Yet, far be it from the two creators to revel in their work.
Since their early "South Park" days through "Team America," muchjoking and audience-winking has been made of the poor animation.One is reminded of the self-deprecating humor of the late greatRodney Dangerfield, always bemoaning his lack of respect.
Although clearly not for everyone, least of all the easilyoffended, "Team America" is a very good film. Most importantly themovie fulfilled its main and most important purpose; everyone inthe theater laughed, many out loud.
