ironhorse_iv
At the time, 'South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut' was released, Matt Stone and Trey Parker's popular animated series was at the peak of its popularity due to its crude and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of topics. So it was no surprise that fans were foaming at the mouth to feast their eyes on a full-length cinematic adaptation. They got it in the summer of 1999, due to the success of the Comedy Central show. Made after Season 2, and before Season 3. Stone and Parker were given nearly virtually limitless platform to let their depraved satire and original comedy run wild. And run wild they did with the nudity, violence and toilet humor, they put in the movie. However, it's the profanity that got this movie, the most infamous. In fact, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut went on to earn a spot in Guinness World Record history for "Most Swearing in an Animated Film.", & first computer-animated film in history to receive an R rating, despite alleged pressure from Paramount Pictures officials to keep the movie toned down. Thank goodness, this foul-mouthed musical didn't get it's originally rated NC-17 rating. I would have, thought that would be, way too extreme of rating, just because the movie felt like using profanity. Still, the Rated R movie really went beyond what the television show, was able to do, at the time. What made this movie, very entertaining is the fact that South Park uses a very large ensemble cast of recurring characters that was originally intended for mature audiences. While, it's more common place, now. In the late 1990s, it wasn't. This movie was never made for kids. Yet, some children did see it, at the theater. I was one of them. My parents knew how controversy, this movie was, at the time, but they understood, that behind the foul-language and low brow humor, there was some intellectually insightful satire view into modern society. After all, the movie is self-reflective in nature. The enthusiasm the kids display for seeing the Terrence and Phillip movie reflects the creators' anticipation of the real world enthusiasm many people, including those under age, would experience to see the movie. I'm not saying, that children should see this movie. It's really up to your call. I just saying, as parents, you should allow your children, some freedom to make their decisions, than acting too much of authoritarian. After all, hearing people swear is, part of growing up in the modern age. You just have to teach them, why certain words are not welcome for general use, and try to guide them into making more moral judgement calls. It's call parenting. I'm not even saying, my parents were even permissive. There were plenty of other extreme movies with sex & violence, I wasn't allowed to watch, until I was, way older. In the end, this movie didn't really turn me into a foul-mouthed psychopath. It just broader my intellectual development even larger. Another thing that was brilliant about this movie is how it's advocates against censorship, and better parenting. In many ways, the plot for this movie is very similar to the sixth episode of the first season of South Park, in which Death comes to South Park, after the parents of South Park protest against the foul language use in a local TV Station. However, unlike "Death", this movie use the execution of Terrance (Voiced by Matt Stone) and Phillip (Voiced by Trey Parker) as the Seventh Sign in a parody of the Apocalypse; causing Satan (Voiced by Trey Parker) to return to Earth. In addition to the Canadian Duo, that episode also introduced recurring characters Kyle's mother. (Voiced by Mary Kay Bergman) that would played a big role in this film by blaming Canada for the children use of language, rather than themselves. Much of the plot, is also a homage to the 1993's 'Beavis and Butt-Head' controversy where a little boy set his trailer on fire which killed his little sister on accident. Instead, of blaming the boy, his mother of course blamed the MTV animation show. In the movie, Kenny (Voiced by Beavis and Butthead creator, Mike Judge) is use in very fashion, showing how much people are unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions, and would rather look for scapegoats within the media, government, religion, and culture, as a way to solve their problem. Because of that, it point out the absurdities that both extreme sides of a social issue cling to, so well. It is Meta Humor use at its best and funniest. Another great thing about this film is the use of a lot of subversive, profanity-laced musical songs. All written by co-creator Trey Parker and Hollywood composer Marc Shaiman that ripped off and spoofed traditional theatrical musicals such as 1955's 'Oklahoma', 1961's 'West Side Story', 1965's 'Sound of Music', 1989's 'Little Mermaid', and of course, 1998's 'Les Miserables". Songs like 'Mountain Town', 'What Would Brian Boitano Do?', 'La resistance" and others, became a house-hold names, because, how memorable, the lyrics and tone were. Even songs like 'Blame Canada' was nominated for an Oscar, for best original song. Because of this film success in the music department, the creators of this movie were able to make the fame Broadway musical, 'The Book of Mormon', years later, with also got great praise. The voice acting is also pretty good in this film, with most of the original cast reprising their roles. I even love all the celebrity voice cameos like George Clooney, Eric Idle and Minnie Driver that came to lend a hand, during production. The visuals are not that bad, as well. Although clearly aged, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut still looks great. Overall: What Would Brian Boitano Do? He would probably go see this movie. So check it out! It's one hell of a film.
