Just saw Team America (1 Viewer)

[Patrick Sun]

I felt a little self-conscious because a bunch of kids were sitting in the row behind me, and they were all in that 10-12 year old range, and while the puppet-sex scenes were funny, hearing the kids snicker at the same scenes and repeating the lines right after they heard them as kids do for cussing dialogue, and then have them subjected to Gary proving his trustworthiness at the end made watching the film not as fun for me.

Overall, not a great movie, thinly veiled metaphors, and overdone ham-fisted attempts at lambasting their targets (outspoken Hollywood actors, etc) overstayed its welcome.

I'll give it 2.5 stars, or a grade of C+.

 

[David Galindo]

Were the kids with someone? Jeez, I cant believe some people. Some parents...



Sorry to hear that Patrick

 

[david stark]

I saw this last night and loved it, was laughing most of the way through it. Although I liked it I can see Rob A's point of view, I don't really watch south park, but I watch it occasionally and like it (I don't watch any tv show regularly, if I did South PArk would probably be one of them). I may watch it again in a few years, but I don't see it having a good repeat viewing rating.



Most of the laughs for me was because it was new, unexpected and the songs were excellent, but if I watch it again then I think most of the comedy will fade.



One question that someone on here may know did Trey Parker or Matt Stone actually appear in the film themselves? It was during the Kim Jong Il lonely (or ronley) song, he was walking around the palace and he walked down some stairs next to a giant statue of himself and I'm pretty sure it was a real person painted silver and standing still.

 

[Malcolm R]

"I'm So Ronrey" has to be nominated for Best Song.

Hell, not that many people even know who she is now.

 

[WillG]

quote:and overdone ham-fisted attempts at lambasting their targets (outspoken Hollywood actors, etc) overstayed its welcome.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there, I thought that was the most refreshing aspect of the whole film.

 

[Chris*W]

quote:I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there, I thought that was the most refreshing aspect of the whole film.

I agree completely. I just saw it a few hours ago, and the film made the packed theater roar with laughter. I have to say that the best thing about the film were the songs. "I'm So Ronrey", "America, Fuck Yeah", and "Freedom Isn't Free" were just great. And if you fear this film because you think that it might be anti-Bush or liberal, just go and see it. IMHO I thought that the film was more conservative and pro-defense than anything else, considering that Parker and Stone are libertarians.

 

[Mike Broadman]

I do think their obsession with slamming celebrities is weird. Yes, it's funny, and sure, celebs can be annoying and arrogant. But of all things to focus so much attention on... Sean Penn? It ends up being a bit hypocritical: they slam actors for coming off as if they're so important when they're really not, yet Parker & Stone are giving them so much attention.

 

[Dave Hackman]

What a low brow waste of time this sh$t was to see from a pussy/ass/dick director and screenwriter. I simply have no F#cking idea how they could utilize so many dick references and other prepubescent Neanderthal scatterbrain triggers that appeal to former never land guests. I did enjoy learning which childhood forbidden word or act triggered uncontrollable giggling from the viewers attempting to get their laugh on.



The choreography was un-impressive and it seemed that these puppets would rather be hanging in the next Chucky movie then be in this film. Voice impersonations were just awful and hardly resembled their real life counterparts. Chemistry among characters was odd to say the least and one wishes for better casting decisions and better puppet development.



Batman and Robin would be jealous of the endless arsenal of unique transportation that this team had at their disposal from flying limousines to subs. The relationships, which developed, were just wonderful (not) and filled with Christ energy that was orally fulfilling.



Can you imagine the work needed to get this on public TV?



My favorite scenes are the sex scene, and the pea soup scene.



I give this movie a long hard F#%king F.



P.S. Adults should be stoned with concession products if they bring young children to see this potty mouth film.

 

[Laurence Price]

quote:I simply have no F#cking idea how they could utilize so many dick references and other prepubescent Neanderthal scatterbrain triggers that appeal to former never land guests. I did enjoy learning which childhood forbidden word or act triggered uncontrollable giggling from the viewers attempting to get their laugh on.

The critisism that's stated relates to exactly what is to be expected from the creators of Southpark. If someone dislikes and is not a fan of their brand of over the top lowbrow and vulgar humor that Matt and Trey use in all of their projects then that person will absolutely hate this movie and may even be offended by it. If someone knows what their getting themselves into then they'll probably understand and deal with the movie better and maybe even enjoy it.

 

[James_G]

I think their obsessions with slamming celebrities like that is weird too...but hey, they're like the only ones who have any power who are doing it. That's a heavy load to bare.

When actors try and be hip and satirical they make fun of their profession (Get Shorty). Rarely, if ever, do you see the actual actors cut down at the knees and dragged over hot coals like in this film. It's always like "okay, we can take lame little jabs at Ben Afleck and Jlo on Saturday Night Live, but we can't do too much because we want them on the show next season. *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*" There are clearly no punches pulled in Team America. There's no winking or nudging when they say that Ben Afleck needs acting lessons, Susan Sarandon's talent is fading with age, or Michael Bay missed the mark when he made Pearl Harbor.

Parker and Stone must be pretty comfortable with where they are to burn so many bridges like they probably did in this film. I would imagine that many of the targets have a ton of pull in the business.

 

[Ernest Rister]

"I would imagine that many of the targets have a ton of pull in the business."



The film is so absurd, I think the celebrities mentioned would have to be abnormally thin-skinned to be personally offended by it. Getting upset by Team America is like getting upset at a caricature in Mad Magazine.

 

[Patrick Sun]

I also felt bad for the 2 guys sitting in the backrow of the theater I saw this movie in because they thought every single line of song or dialogue was snicker-worthy or laugh-worthy.

I think the slagging of the outspoken celebs was overdone once it gets to the meat-grinding portion of disposing of the celebs (i.e. their exposed guts from raw meat), but that's Parker and Stone's brand of humor, so there you go. Why does Matt Damon keep saying just his name? It's because they thought the Matt Damon puppet looked retarded.

I will say that I gave up watching South Park years ago, so I am not Parker/Stone's primary audience anyway.

According to the Entertainment Weekly article, they gave up a lot of upfront ($8 million) and backend money to get the movie made (because the budget went from $25 million to $30 million), and they were pretty tired of filmmaking process towards the end, plus they are still railing on the MPAA ratings board in their pursuit of avoiding the NC-17 rating.

 

[WillG]

quote: The film is so absurd, I think the celebrities mentioned would have to be abnormally thin-skinned to be personally offended by it

Well we do know that Penn had already been critical. Here is an open letter he wrote to them last week. It's not about the film per se, but there are comments about how it relates to the film at the end.



From the NY Post:

quote: IT'S a shame Trey Parker and Matt Stone's hot new puppet flick, "Team America: World Police," has already gone through its final cut - the flick that skewers self-important Hollywood stars could have used a Sean Penn cameo.



The "South Park" duo were howling with laughter Friday when they received an angry letter from Penn, who was deeply upset after Parker and Stone blasted Sean Combs for his "Vote or Die" campaign.



Penn was especially infuriated after reading on PAGE SIX about Stone's theory that the U.S. might be better off, and might elect better leaders, if apathetic, uninformed voters stayed home on Election Day. Penn wrote Parker and Stone: "I remember a cordial hello when you guys were beginning to be famous guys around Hollywood ... I remember several times getting a few giggles out of your humor. I remember not being bothered as you traded on my name among others to appear witty ... I never mind being of service in satire and silliness.



"I do mind when anybody who doesn't have a child, doesn't have a child at war, or isn't or won't be in harm's way themselves is [saying] that 'there is no shame in not voting if you don't know what you are talking about' ...



"You guys are talented young guys, but alas, primarily young guys. It's all well to joke about me or whomever you choose. Not so well to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation and death of innocent people around the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, including a couple of hip cross-dressers', is an excuse."



Penn signed off, "All the best and a sincere [bleep] you," before adding, "P.S. Take this as a personal invitation from me to you (you can ask Dennis Miller along for the ride as well) to escort you on a trip, which I took last Christmas. We'll fly to Amman, Jordan and I'll ride with you in a taxi 12 hours through the Sunni Triangle into Fallujah and Baghdad and I'll show you around. When we return, make all the fun you want."



A pal of Stone and Parker, upon reading the letter, laughed: "This is the most self-important, self-inflated letter ever! It's exactly what the movie ['Team America'] is about!"





Penn's rep didn't return calls.

 

[BrettV]

I don't frequently watch it, but I always get laughs out of Southpark.
This movie had me cracking up the entire time.

I was literally crying from laughing so hard

Spoiler:when gary was throwing up violently.

 

[Ernest Rister]

"I also felt bad for the 2 guys sitting in the backrow of the theater I saw this movie in because they thought every single line of song or dialogue was snicker-worthy or laugh-worthy."

I have a sweet tooth for absurdity in comedy - and absurdism can take many forms. From Mel Brooks to Monty Python to Chuck Jones to Team America. I found myself laughing at even small things in Team America...from the over-the-top "southern" accent of the vocal in the country music parody, "Freedom Isn't Free", to the dead chicken and donkey puppets in the Panama Canal scene. So I guess you feel sorry for me, too.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Seriously, they were laughing at every utterance of dialogue for the entire movie. Nothing is *that* funny.

 

[Ernest Rister]

Sing with me now! Everybody!

"Now the world don't move
to the beat of just one drum
What might be right for you
May not be right for some

A man is born
He's a man of means
Then along come two
Who've got nothing but their jeans

But they've got
Diff'rent Strokes
It takes
Diff'rent Strokes
It takes
Diff'rent Strokes to move the world

Everybody's got a special kind of story
Everybody finds a way to shine,
It don't matter that you got
not alot
So what?
They'll have theirs,
and you'll have yours,
and I'll have mine.
And together we'll be fine....

Because it takes,
Diff'rent Strokes to move the world.
Yes it does.
It takes
Diff'rent Strokes to move the world."

Group hug!

 

[Phil_L]

It only made $12.3 million this weekend. Seems a little disappointing. I thought this was a guaranteed hit with all the pre-release hype. Of course, when i saw it on Friday, the theater wasn't that busy. BTW, I thought it was a fun friday night diversion.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Well, this is where fans of the film will say that the R rating impacted ticket sales, while underage kids bought tickets to something else and snuck in to watch this film.

 

[Julian Lalor]

quote:There's no winking or nudging when they say that Ben Afleck needs acting lessons, Susan Sarandon's talent is fading with age, or Michael Bay missed the mark when he made Pearl Harbor.

Well, Parker and Stone are hardly the Marx Brothers themselves. Their obsession with self-important celebrities wore out its welcome on South Park years ago and the fact that they are still lampooning them says more about their abilities, or limitations thereof, than it does about the people they are taking the piss out of. They attack them because they are easy targets. It doesn't require a lot of ingenuity. That is left to real storytellers.