Team America: World Police (2004)

 

When you get a film by the guys behind 'South Park', you can probably guess where it all is heading. 

Colour everyone surprised when they decided they wanted to make a puppet film in the vein of the classic 'Thunderbirds', only peppered with their irreverent humour. Colour everyone even more surprised that it is a total hoot to watch and quote.

The world is under threat from terrorists. In comes Team America World Police, which is exactly what it says: a bunch of clichéd American stereotypes that just go all around the world, sticking their noses in where it doesn't really belong and destroying a lot of things without any regard for them, as they're not American. But the team is experiencing difficulties, and because they know a massive assault is coming, they hire an actor to infiltrate the evildoers' organization. The only problem is, our actor can't cope with it all once there is a retaliatory attack and now the team has to go at it without him and without a true 'team spirit'. Will they succeed, or will they suck eggs? 

Yes, the bad guy is North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il, who now has passed on, so again yes: this makes this film just a little dated.

But there is so much awesomeness on display here. Every cliché in the book is hyped up to 11, and makers Matt Stone and Trey Parker take pot shots at everything and everyone, not in the least the very real conception that most of the world does see the US as a bunch of meddlers that have no regard for anything. 

I'm sorry, but this very often was the case in the past and may even be so in the future. Hence the satire.

So there are clever jokes and spoofs of action films (heck, there's even a montage song to a, well, you know). Anything and everything gets thrown into the grinder and most of the time to hilarious effect. Just listen to the lyrics of the songs and have a smirk or grin. 

But of course there are a lot of sex-related jokes. There's even an extended puppet sex scene that has to be seen to be believed. There's something you don't see every day. 

If you know 'South Park', you can instantly get where this is all going. But there is an aspect that I haven't touched upon, and that is the puppetry. They actually wanted it to look a little dated and that gives this an unmistakable charm. Heck, the puppets look great and what really is impressive, are the elaborate sets. No seriously, if and when you rewatch this, just check the backgrounds and miniatures: theyr'e friggin' impressive. Which also goes to show that even though these guys are known for their irreverent humour, they truly seem to love 'The Thunderbirds' in all it's wonderfully dated glory. You'd almost become emotional. 

Oh, and the 'Pussies, Dicks and Assholes'-speech is one of those classic inspirational speeches that will never win a prize, but has wormed its way into the minds of countless people to use at their own discretion. 

Yes, it's often vulgar. Yes, it's always ridiculous. But it is also just a lot of fun and it keeps on being funny.