ARTS

South Park: sophisticated scatalogical satire

by Rossiter Drake

How does one begin to describe South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, the new comedy from Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the same duo responsible for lowbrow romps like BASEketball and Orgazmo? To say that the film follows proudly in the crude, tasteless and politically incorrect footsteps of the original television series seems obvious. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Bigger, Longer and Uncut, then, is the fact that it is consistently funny and entertaining, a far cry from the mediocre drivel that appears on Comedy Central every Wednesday night.

The film follows the latest adventures of Cartman, Kenny, Kyle and Stan, the usual gang of animated idiots who are called upon to save two of their heroes, Terrance and Phillip, from the evil clutches of the American government. Needless to say, the kids triumph over their hapless elders, Terrance and Phillip return happily to Canada and world peace ensues. In the process, the folks of South Park are treated to a foreign film from the Great White North (Asses of Fire), several impromptu musical numbers and an unexpected visit from Saddam Hussein. (As Stone quipped in a recent interview, the film "is like Spartacus, only with a lot more farting.") Finally, in a truly shocking turn of events, poor young Kenny is killed. Picture of South Park movie

The story is ridiculous, of course, but that is to be expected; this is South Park, after all, not the long-awaited sequel to The Ten Commandments. That is not to say, however, that Bigger, Longer and Uncut is merely an exercise in comic stupidity, upholding the inglorious tradition of recent hits like There's Something About Mary and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. If anything, the film is an intelligent and oftentimes scathing social satire that ridicules the pomposity of organized religion, the hypocrisy of the Motion Picture Association of America and the racist agenda of the Army. Despite its sophomoric humor, it is a cleverly subversive movie at heart, and all the dick and fart jokes in the world cannot hide its underlying assault on overblown American values.

That's impressive, because Bigger, Longer and Uncut may very well feature more dick and fart jokes than any film since Mel Brooks' History of the World Part One. It is an outrageous, overstuffed bag of insults, diatribes and slurs, the kind of profanity that has become the trademark of all Stone and Parker films. It is likely that the film will even manage to shock and offend those hardened, cynical fans of the television series who undoubtedly went to the Apollo last week in search of big laughs and raunchy gags. They will find both, but they will probably be surprised to learn just how far the filmmakers will go to get those laughs. (At least half of the jokes in the film work only because of their shock value.)

Even so, fans and newcomers will not be disappointed by Bigger, Longer and Uncut. It is rude, crude and socially unacceptable, elevating the concept of the television series to new heights of vulgarity. (The scenes involving Hussein, Satan and an oversized dildo spring instantly to mind.) But it is also (pardon me while I pull out my other list of adjectives) smart, hilarious and thoroughly entertaining.


Kick the baby: South Park played at the Apollo last week. (photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

 

Back // Arts Contents \\ Next

T H E   O B E R L I N   R E V I E W

Copyright © 1999, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 128, Number 5, October 1, 1999

Contact us with your comments and suggestions.