Team America: World Police (2004)

Strong and Moving!

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

This is the funniest movie, I have ever seen. South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone show their true genius in this vulgar politically incorrect parody of the American might. Using puppets reminiscent of the old kids show "Thunderbirds" worked especially well. They don't even try to hide the puppet strings or aim for realism. They do in in a cheesy way on purpose, and it works.The puppet sex scene hurt my stomach, because everyone in the room was laughing so hard it became infectious and no one could stop.If you are not a prude and enjoy irreverent satire, (which never loses steam) then Team America World Police is for you.

Team America: World Police (2004): Dir: Trey Parker, Matt Stone / Voices: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Daran Norris, Skyler Stone: Vulgar and distasteful computer generated string puppet action film about a team of fighters who destroy terrorism. They seem to be a metaphor for the senseless attack on Iran. They destroy every important landmark they come across and seek a stage actor to disguise himself as a terrorist and gather information. They find him performing a musical called Everybody Has A.I.D.S. With his help they confront a terrorist enemy who assembles members of the Screen Actors guild for support. Totally offensive yet detailed film directed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park. Some characters are broad while others are types. Parker and Stone voice many of the puppet characters including actor Gary and terrorist villains. Kristen Miller voices agent Lisa who falls for Gary, and Daran Norris voices the agency head who seeks Gary out. Skyler Stone voices Chris who confesses why his attitude is so bad. Numerous celebrities are maimed in response towards publicity stunts. Jokes include two naked puppets engaging in various sexual positions, and an extended puking scene. While the film is offensive, it also strives for creativity while attacking media bullshit. The puppets are a hoot within all the turmoil. Score: 7 / 10

Because the movie is told through puppets, it will likely be off- putting for many right off the bat but it's also what made me appreciate the movie most (as a technical feat). Team America: World Police hilariously nails many of the action genre's tropes and easy American stereotypes but coincidentally shares the same tasteless, uncomfortable humor that South Park manufactures. It's too extreme for me but was a good introspective laugh in the meantime.My rubric:2. You and I, we could make something more engrossing with a million dollars and the length of the runtime. Absolutely dreadful, a total drag - save yourself.4. Average. Post-mortem of your mildly entertained time, you are unenthused.6. The threshold for willful re-watching. You get excited when it's brought up casually in conversation.8. The go-to movies. You've employed yourself to actively advertise someone else's work to share the satisfaction. The obsession extends beyond promotion and into understanding. You exhaust yourself, concerned in the detail and ensuring no one could ever introduce you to an element you haven't explored.10. A work of art that radically develops one's self comically, emotionally, morally or imaginatively with lasting affect.

Back in 2004 Team America rode a tidal wave of controversial hype to theaters, where it quickly vanished off screens. A grueling production and a rushed post production to meet a silly release date timed for election season, keeps Team America from being as tightly edited as it should. It runs about 15 minutes too long and needs some tinkering, but as sloppy as the film can get, it's sheer audacity as not only a technical accomplishment but as a deranged satire is something to behold. The last thing I was expecting from Trey Parker was a meticulously crafted film - something hilarious, of course - but not brilliant cinematography, well lit models and well staged action, while skewering the visuals of Bruckheimer productions. Even if a particular joke falls flat, I find it hard not to still have a smile on my face from watching absurd puppets in absurd sets - the whole film is a visual gag. While Parker and Stone certainly mine laughs at the expense of self righteous actors, the gags worked best as a TV newscast punchline, but turning that punchline into a last act plot thread doesn't fully work. The screenplay never really finds its footing, but my criticisms are dwarfed by the fact that just looking at the film makes me laugh out loud.