Team America: World Police

Cast (Voices): Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Masasa, Daran Norris, Phil Hendrie, Maurice LaMarche, Chelsea Magritte, Jeremy Shada, Fred Tatasciore
Director: Trey Parker
Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy
Rated: MA sexual references
Running Time: 97 Minutes

Putting The "F" Back In Freedom

Synopsis:
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 realises that his acting gift is needed for a higher cause.

From the pyramids of Cairo to the Panama Canal and finally to the palace of power-mad dictator, Kim Jong Il, Team America criss-crosses the globe on a desperate mission to prevent world destruction.

My Verdict:
'Team America: World Police' is an action adventure starring an all-marionette cast, much like the original 'Thunderbirds' (1964), which was in fact the inspiration for this movie. Trey Parker and Matt Stone of "South Park" fame, decided on a spoof using marionettes and combined this with the themes used in 'Thunderbirds' to unleash their irreverent brand of wicked humour on the big screen. The result is a wickedly vulgar, crude, rude, disgustingly funny and non-stop politically slanted satire.

Team America's newest recruit Gary is a maverick who joins the rest of the gang, Joe, the all-star quarterback, Sarah, a top clairvoyant, Chris, a martial arts expert, Lisa, a psychology major and the groups mentor, Spottswoode, who puts it all together and manages everyone's feelings from their Mt. Rushmore base. The group needed a spy to infiltrate the global terrorist network and after some amazing cosmetic surgery, Gary is transformed and sent on his first mission. From here, Gary blunders his way through his mission only to regret his transformation into a Team America member.

What follows is a comedic action adventure that destroys and satirises many Hollywood movies and stars, including a group who collectively are known as the Film Actors Guild or F.A.G. for short, lead by Alec Baldwin. There are musical numbers that are very crude including a homage to the movie 'Pearl Harbor' and the acting talent (or lack of) of Ben Affleck, another priceless gem in the opening sequence is titled "Everyone Has AIDS", and then of course, the theme song that plays as Team America embark on a mission -"America, Fuck Yeah". There is also a fantastically choreographed multiple position sex scene between Gary and Sarah that will have you bent over laughing when you realise you are actually watching puppets, complete with visible strings.

No stone is left unturned as Parker and Stone let loose with their trademark blend of humour in this unique and distinctively wild comedy. Be warned though, as the language is relentless and the violence is also relentless (who would have thought puppets could be so brutal?). 'Team America: World Police' may be more relevant for the hard-core "South Park" fans but it is still surely one of this years most original and creative movies.

Rating : A

Christina Bruce