Paperjam

Team America: World Police

Film // Jim // 23rd January 2005

“All best, and a sincere fuck you”

That was how Sean Penn signed off a (frankly rather upset) memo to Trey Parker and Matt Stone in October 2004. What could have made the photographer-baiting, politically active actor get so hot under the collar at the South Park creators?
It probably had something to do with their new film, Team America: World Police.

As you probably already know, Team America is a puppet action film rather like the old Gerry Anderson TV programmes such as Thunderbirds, Joe 90 and Stingray.

As you probably also know this film is a comedy, and likely to be categorised as “adult” comedy due to the amount of material dedicated to swearing, vomiting, sex and violence all of which has been described as “childish”. Isn’t humour complicated?

Well, yes actually it is. Team America launches comedic salvos in several directions at once, some hitting the target better than others. There are far more hits than misses though, and the whole thing is trouser-soilingly funny throughout.

Team America: Funny, Puppets

In general terms the whole thing is a massive piss take of all the atrocious action films that get made by the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer. All of the elements and cliches familiar from films such as Top Gun and Armageddon are present and mercilessly subverted; a USA-centric view of the world, stereotyping of anyone foreign, OTT action sequences, cheesy dialogue, tragic plot arcs and a series of overblown speeches.

The genius montage sequence alone is one of the greatest pieces of cinematic mickey-taking I have ever seen.
Special mention should go to the music, with big rock theme, America, Fuck Yeah! raising the uneasy ghosts of Kenny Loggins on the Top Gun soundtrack in particular.

The next layer of funniness is provided by the sick-puppy South Park-esque stuff. Watching two puppets bump bones, or throw up for five minutes is much funnier than it sounds and some of the swearing and general rudeness is absolutely hilarious, rarely has the phrase “Now, suck my cock” been delivered by a puppet to such effect.
By the time the cast of well known celebrities (in puppet form) start getting shot, burnt and generally mutilated you will be loving it.

Kim: Evil, Spanners

Political satire cuts a swathe through the film without making any point at all, except to offend those of any political persuasion. Although conspicuous by his absence, George Bush and his right wing cronies are nicely substituted by Team America; thick as shit, shoot-first storm troopers who end up blowing up most of the planet while looking for weapons of mass destruction and killing generic terrorists.

On the other side leftist actors and celebrities are shown as a being a bunch of condescending smart arses. Self important in telling everyone else what to think and chilling in their devotion to “Best Actor In The World” Alec Baldwin.

The most realistic characterisation in the film is probably that of Kim Jong Il, the despotic ruler of North Vietnam, who is an evil fuck and as mad as a bag of spanners in real life too.

After all the laughter you are left with two main impressions, firstly Parker and Stone have some serious issues with a number of movie stars and probably won’t be getting invited to the Oscars this year. Or Michael Moore’s house. Or Tim Robbins’ birthday party.
Secondly that the main political thrust of the film is apathetic or even nihilistic, this is what seems to have got Sean Penn so upset. However the view that all sides of the political process are a complete waste of time is a valid one, the fact that it takes a rude puppet film to point this out is probably the biggest joke of all.

Some team America Links...

That Sean Penn Memo

You won't understand until you have children...

Bio of Kim Jong Il

Third in the all time "Starving your own population to death" leaderboard. Horrifically unpleasant person.

Jerry Bruckheimer Fan Site

It's all in here. Warning: annoying soundclip on loading this site.

America, Fuck Yeah!

Team America's big rock anthem along with flash video thing