`South Park' – Traces of Intelligence beneath Landslide of Obscenities by Homer Yen (c)1999
I've never actually the seen the Comedy Central offering about life in a ‘mountain redneck town' called South Park. But it's reputation is certainly well known as a show filled wall-to-wall with words that moms would be shocked to hear. And film always has a way of elevating the relative tameness found on TV. `South Park: Bigger, Louder and Uncut' elevates full throttle to the limit. It couldn't be any more raunchy, shameless, and obscenity-laden. Parents beware…if you're children are asking for a few dollars to go to some art film, you'd better follow them because they are on there way to see this film.
I'm only sending out this warning because the obscene language goes beyond excessive. Yet, there is a definite intelligence at work here as a vicious social satire about our ever-degenerating culture and societal norms. The creators of `South Park' probably realize that they're pushing the envelope in every scene, and are smart to work in obvious references that stuff like `South Park' can only do more harm than good although in the short term, it can be kind of funny. Witness for example the first 15 minutes where we meet up with four familiar foul-mouthed friends (Stan, Cartman, Kyle, and Kenny – well, he speaks with a muffle). They take some money from their mom under the pretense that they are going to an art film. Instead, they bribe a bum to buy tickets for them to the newly released `R' rated movie called ‘Terrence and Philip'. This film is filled with non-stop vulgarity and bathroom jokes. In the first five minutes, the `F' word is said umpteen times while Terrence and Philip commence a song and dance routine where at precise moments, various people all break wind. The various tones and lengths create a pseudo-wind concerto. I almost laughed, although I'm ashamed to admit it. The four young boys soak it all in while all of the other patrons begin to leave the theatre. The incredible thing was that at that exact same moment, the same thing happened in my theatre. People got up and left. To be able to sit through this film really requires some discipline and open-mindedness.
The kids take everything that they've learned from this film and proudly go about their elementary school repeating phrases to everyone from friends to teachers to the principal. The mothers are all aghast and take arms against Canada, the country that produced the film. Don't blame us…blame those pesky northern neighbors. The mother's lobby to execute Terence and Philip as treasonous prisoners of war while the children contemplate the consequences of their action and reflect the values that are at stake. But as with most cartoons that try to stretch from 30 to 90 minutes, a lot of it loses its razor-sharp tenacity. To compensate, there are also sub-plots about little Stan's infatuation for a fellow female schoolmate (the running joke is that every time he opens his mouth, he throws up on her face), and the coming of Satan which will occur if Terrence and Philip are executed.
`South Park' does tell its story with energy and with song. In fact, the structure is much like a traditional musical. There are a few catchy tunes such as the introspective `What Would Brian Boitano Do?' and a catchy, march-like `Blame Canada'. Most impressive was a well-orchestrated production number that ably connected all of the separate plots. Still, given the frankness of the language and the non-stop lowbrow humor and wonton destruction, I can't, with any sense of integrity, recommend this film. However, I did think that this film held together better than Wild Wild West. And in a few instances, there were flashes of wisdom and intelligence that really made me take notice (the undertones of freedom of speech and the blind reckless abandon to which overprotective mothers defend their children, for example). If you do see it, prepare to be shocked.
Grade: C
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