CORPORATE LINE: Team America, an international police force dedicated to maintaining global stability, learns that a power hungry dictator is brokering weapons of mass destruction to terrorists. The heroes embark upon a harrowing mission to save the world.
To infiltrate the terrorist network, Team America recruits Gary Johnston, a rising star on Broadway, to go undercover. Although initially reluctant to sacrifice his promising career, Gary realizes that his acting gift is needed for a higher cause.
With the help of Team America leader Spottswoode and fellow members Chris, Sarah, Lisa and Joe, Gary slips into an arms dealer’s hideout where he discovers that the terrorists’ plot has already begun to unfold.
From the pyramids of Cairo to the Panama Canal and finally to the palace of power-mad dictator Kim Jong II, Team America criss-crosses the globe on a desperate mission to preserve the very fabric of civilization.
“Team America: World Police” is an action adventure from the creators of “South Park,” starring an all-marionette cast.
THE GOOD: The absurdity is part of the film’s brilliance. Team America punches everything and everyone where it counts; ridiculous action films, liberals, conservatives, actors, and our current government. This is idiot times 1,000 which would equal something that I don’t want to think about—just ask Spottswood.
Everyone who goes to see Team America for the graphic puppet sex won’t be disappointed. This is the best love scene between two puppets to date. The puppeteer is fantastic and lends his craft to the punch lines. Brilliant.
Parker and Stone have a real distaste for Hollywood films—Bruckheimer gets the brunt of the beating (“Pearl Harbor sucks/ and I miss you”). Speaking of Hollywood, the duo of Parker and Stone really trounce actors and actress like Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, etc. and their outspokenness and know-it-all attitudes.
One of the funniest caricatures is Kim Jong Il. Jong sounds like Cartman but can’t pronounce his ‘R’s. One scene finds him singing about being so “rownreee” (lonely for those of us who don’t speak Jong). Jong is the new leader for terrorists and their jihad against America. One scene finds the terrorists blowing up the Panama Canal because they are mad at Team America, but it makes Jong mad because they don’t listen to him. Don’t make Jong mad!
The most scathing and hilarious mockery is of the U.S.’s arrogance. Songs like “America (F**k Yeah!)” is probably what most countries think is our national anthem. Team America polices the world by blowing everything up and causing more destruction than necessary to hit a small target. One scene has Team America blowing up French national treasures like the Eiffel Tower to kill four terrorists that could have easily been killed in a less destructive matter—not unlike Iraq.
THE BAD: There are a few slow areas—perhaps that is mocking the big hit action films too… who knows. Also, anyone who is reading this we don’t recommend bringing your kids—it is rated R.
DVD FEATURES: It’s very odd that Parker and Stone don’t provide a commentary for this release. Team America is one film where there‘s a lot to talk about.
There are quite a bit of good featurettes. “Team America: An Introduction” is a quickie description of why the film was made the way it was. There are eight production featurettes: “Building The World”; “Crafting the Puppets”; “Pulling The Strings”; “Capturing The Action”; “Miniature Pyrotechnics”; “Up Close With Kim Jong-Il”; “Dressing Room Test”; “Puppet Test”.
“Building the World” shows how the movie was made and shows the amazing detail that went into making the film. “Crafting the People” is very similar and the title is very self-explanatory. “Up Close With Kim Jong-Il” is a hilarious featurette about the little behind this wacky character.
FRANKLY: Team America: World Police is Parker and Stone’s chance to piss everyone off. This is a hilarious comedy that keeps you laughing. For all Team American’s arrogance, lunacy, racism, and over-the-top portrayals you can’t help but recognize that much of it is anti-racism, anti-political correctness, and possibly anti-stupidity. Or is it just making the point that being stupid is fun? Team America: World Police is f***in’ hilarious.
+ Charlie Craine
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