South Park: Bigger Longer Uncut

Trey Parker, USA, 1999, 81 minutes

Well, it’s South Park, and as the film’s subtitle may suggest, it is indeed bigger, longer and remarkably uncut…

Freed from the restraints of US television standards, Trey Parker and Matt Stone set out to produce the crudest, most offensive animated movie known to man, and boy, did they achieve it. With record-breaking levels of language and violence, South Park is not for the easily offended. However, anyone with a sense of humour will also realise that this movie is also downright hilarious from start to finish – no celebrity, film, musical or former dictator is safe from ridicule in this film.

For the uninitiated, South Park begins with our 8-year-old heroes (Stan, Kyle, Cartman and the inevitably ill-fated Kenny) sneaking their way into an R-rated Canadian film based on their favourite TV series. Of course, the copious quantities of foul language corrupt their fragile little minds and soon parents across America are outraged – so the USA starts a war with Canada. As you do. However, when Satan and his gay lover (Saddam Hussein) get involved, the whole future of the world is at stake…

Don’t think for a second that South Park is just mindless stupidity, however – the script is scathingly satirical and in light of recent events remarkably prescient. The witty lines are laid on thick and fast, and the songs, of which there are several, are ridiculously enjoyable (Shut Your Fucking Face Uncle-Fucker is a stand-out laugh riot). Add some celebrity voice cameos from George Clooney and Eric Idle, amongst others, and you have 80 minutes of obscenely good (and just plain obscene) fun.

And finally, remember kids: Horrific, deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words.

Review by Iain Jackson
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2004