DVD Challenge #12: SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
1999
R
Run-time: 1 hour, 21 minutes

Directed by: Trey Parker
Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Isaac Hayes, Mary Kay Bergman, George Clooney, Minnie Driver, Brent Spiner


In the wake of one of the most talked-about episodes of "South Park" in recent memory, there's many a fanatic pondering whether last week's mid-season finale marked the beginning of the end of the franchise. I know that I've been debating the meaning of the melodramatic ending to that episode, and it's gotten me thinking about the series as a whole. One of the brightest moments in "South Park" history was the release of its first - and to date, only - feature length film in 1999's South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Because the show has been on my mind, I decided to give the movie another gander as part of my DVD Challenge.

Now, I was a fan of "South Park" long before I had the opportunity to see the film (I didn't first see it until about five years ago), so I may be a bit biased in my love towards the film. I have yet to find a fan of the series that didn't like the film, but I don't know if I've ever talked to anyone who has seen the film but isn't a fan of the series. Because of this, I'm not sure whether the film has staying power outside of avid fans, but for me, it's one of the greatest films I've ever seen.

In terms of the vocal acting, there isn't much to say about our normal string of characters that can't be said about every single episode. Parker and Stone handle most of the lead voices throughout the film, but we are introduced to a number of new characters during it. We get to meet Satan (voiced by Parker), who plays an incredibly important role in the film, and there are a few other characters that make nice appearances. However, some of the little tidbits that fans might enjoy are the inclusion of big-name celebs like George Clooney (as Dr. Gouache), Minnie Driver (as Brooke Shields) and Brent Spiner (as Conan O'Brien) lending their vocal talent to the film.

You're also going to notice that the film is, in fact, a musical. We're given a slew of original songs that only add to the hilarity of the movie, but a lot of them have in-jokes that only fans might recognize. For example, the song "What Would Brian Boitano Do?" is a direct reference to the Brian Boitano appearance in the early stages of the television show. Also, the song "Kyle's Mom's a Bitch" was used in an earlier episode and was expanded for the film. However, some of the original fare proves to be the best, even garnering the film an Academy Award nomination for the song "Blame Canada," which was wonderfully performed by Robin Williams at the actual awards show:

My personal favorite song from the film, however, has to be our opening number simply entitled "Mountain Town." It sets the stage for everything that's going to happen.

Now, not a lot of credit is given to the film's screenplay, which proves to be rather brilliant. In a way, it's extremely metatheatrical. At the beginning of the film, the boys go to see an R-rated film called Asses of Fire that's essentially an analogue for the film the audience itself is watching. It's chalk full of insensitive and irreverent profanity, just like the movie we get to see. We're basically having the same experience that the boys are having within the film, minus the havoc that it ultimately creates. The rest of the film serves as the filmmakers' statement about American over-sensitivity with vulgar language whilst having the double standard of under-sensitivity when it comes to graphic violence. Sure, they drop their usual goofy gags and "potty humor" throughout the film, but there's something more profound about their message than just that. It's a little difficult for me to explain here, but fans of the film will know what I'm talking about.

Overall, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is easily one of the greatest animated films I have ever experienced. Whether that can be said by many is uncertain, but I know that it was a fantastic addition to the annals of "South Park" history, if nothing else.

Rankings
Best All-Time: #81

Awards
1999: 5 nominations, 4 wins

Previous DVD Challenge: DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG (2008)

Movie Review: YOUR STUDIO AND YOU

Now, I don't generally review short films because I think they have a very different dynamic than feature-length ventures. I have reviewed one short film - 2011's The Black Mamba - in the past, but that's as far as I've gone to this point. However, Your Studio and You happens to hold a special place in my heart (for reasons I will mention momentarily). I'm embedding the film below - make sure you watch both part one and part two - but let me set the stage a little bit. According to the synopsis on IMDb, executives from Universal Pictures commissioned the making of the short in 1995 after the company was bought by Seagrams. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone directed the piece, which works as a parody of 1950s corporate and industrial films. So without any further delay, enjoy the videos and wait for my "review" after the jump.

So the first thing that you're likely to notice throughout the film is the slew of big-time names that make appearances here and there. From the get-go, we see the likes of Steven Spielberg as Studio Tour guide, Michael J. Fox as a curious young man with a slew of questions, and even James Cameron working on beautifying his surroundings. Sylvester Stallone gets his extended cameo that proves to be one of the most hilarious parts of the film (in my opinion), especially his little afterward at the very end of the film. A few more names that surface that you might recognize include Demi Moore, John Singleton, Angela Lansbury, Brian Grazer and Jeff Katzenberg. The inclusion of these big-time names allows an outside audience (like myself) to connect with the film on a more personal level. Were they not in the film, it might not have appealed to me as much because a lot of the jokes and gags would only appeal to Universal Pictures employees.

Still, those in-jokes are definitely prevalent throughout the film's seventeen-minute run-time. However, if you know anything about Universal Studios in general, you should be able to follow along relatively easily. Knowledge of the Hollywood theme park will also enhance your viewing pleasure quite a bit.

Ultimately, this is definitely a film for anyone who happens to be a fan of Stone and Parker. It has the feel of the rest of their collective work, so if you're into things like South Park, then this should be right up your alley. The two even make an appearance in the film itself, but I won't give it away - I'd rather let the fans spot them. Overall, I personally think that Your Studio and You is one of the funniest short films I have ever seen. If it's not your type of humor, then I apologize, but if you can understand the tongue-in-cheek attitude, then you should have a grand time while watching.