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South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is precisely as advertised. Playing out with a length that's equal to three episodes of the popular television show, this feature-length expansion allows the proverbial South Park characters the latitude to let their mouths run rampant without profanities being censored. See, unlike other cartoon shows such as the Rugrats which were adapted for full-length features, South Park legitimately needed a big-screen treatment free of the restraints of television. Fortunately, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut manages to retain the charm of the show. The animation style is identical, the characters retain their normal cadence, and the story is appropriately goofy, vulgar and lacking in both class and tact - all traits which made the show such a hit. Sure, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut cannot be given a high star rating due to any kind of artistic merit, but films this non-stop hilarious and witty are few and far between.
In the sleepy town of South Park, the new Terrance & Phillip movie has premiered in theatres. When the typical protagonists of the series - Stan (Parker), Eric (also Parker), Kyle (Stone) and Kenny (Stone again) - watch the R-rated motion picture, they learn every unspeakable word in the English language. Afterwards, they predictably repeat all of these words at school ad nauseum. Infuriated by the influence that Terrance & Phillip - two Canadian actors - have had on their children, the concerned local parents form a group called Mothers Against Canada (M.A.C.) which leads to an all-out war between America and Canada. Eventually this culminates in nothing less than an Armageddon, with Satan and Saddam Hussein (don't ask) perceiving the impending execution of Terrance & Phillip as the final sign of the apocalypse.
Surprisingly, there's a subtext behind the narrative: the boys are on the side of freedom of speech, while the parents are not against solving problems with violence. Jesus, South Park has something substantial to say?! Who would've thought? What's also surprising is the cohesiveness of the plot. Episodes of the television show have less than 25 minutes to resolve a plotline, thus this feature-length expansion could deal with a plotline that's far more epic in scope because there was a lot more time to sort it out. It should come as no surprise to learn that South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were at the reigns here - Parker directed while the pair shared the screenwriting, production and voice credits. Their trademark attacks on popular culture are very much in evidence throughout the film. Additionally, the duo managed to get a number of recognisable stars for voice cameos, including Eric Idle, Brett Spiner, Minnie Driver and George Clooney.
A hybrid movie if there ever was one, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut essentially marries animation with adventure and musical elements. Surprisingly, the movie is first and foremost a musical, albeit a demented Disney-style musical. After all, the whole point of using the animation format is to parody the Disney approach, and the crew did a highly effective job here. Written by Parker and Hollywood composer Marc Shaiman, the song lyrics are blisteringly funny due to their pervasive wit and obvious disdain for the concept of political correctness. There are over half a dozen musical numbers throughout the film's 80-minute duration, and Disney can only wish that their songs were as insanely catchy as this. The only drawback with South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is that it runs a tad too long, and it does lose momentum from time to time during the lead-up to the climax.
While the South Park television show pushed the boundaries of how much bad taste can be portrayed on television, Parker and Stone dispensed with the niceties for this feature and went for the jugular. Parker and Stone are equal opportunity offenders - they skewer everyone and everything, and are never subtle about it. From religion to sexual preference to race, nothing is safe from these guys. There are a lot of satirical thrusts struck against a diverse array of victims, including (but not limited to) small town American, the MPAA and its rating system, middle class family values, Canada, the Baldwin Brothers and Bill Clinton. Heck, even Bill Gates is shot in the head at one stage. Loaded with a non-stop barrage of obscenities and profanities, including almost 150 uses of the f-word alone, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is so much the opposite of "cute n' cuddly" animated films that it's impossible not to laugh with an equal measure of shock and glee at both the craziness and brazenness of the whole enterprise.
Obscene, offensive, and absolutely gut-bustingly hilarious, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut will not appeal to every taste. Sensitive viewers are advised to stay clear of the film, while those unfamiliar with South Park should approach with caution. Those who adore the television show, however, are destined to be enthralled and delighted by this feature.
8.7/10
