Review by Forrest Maynock
“Team America: World Police” is a film with a lot of staying power. The humor and sometimes blatant style are memorable, but the film’s content and message remain extremely relevant in this current political landscape. The film has, in my opinion, managed to remain the best puppet-comedy film ever made.
The film produced a significant response from Hollywood, as well as foreign countries after its release. The film is rated R, was directed by Trey Parker, and written by Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady.
I am going to be reviewing this film differently. I won’t be discussing the film’s technical aspects, because none of those things are what really makes the film so memorable. I will simply say that the direction of the puppets is hilarious, the voice acting is uproarious, and the music is outrageous.
The film does have its critics. IMDb has the film rated 7.2/10, Roger Ebert gave the film a 1 out of 4 stars and Rotten Tomatoes has the film rated at 77%. None of those ratings are too rosy, but in this particular case I feel most of the criticism is misplaced.
This film is a must-watch for political junkies because of its biting social and political satire. The film was released at the height of the 2004 presidential election between George W. Bush and John Kerry. A part of the film’s satire is directed towards the American foreign policy or simply the idea that America is the policeman of the world. The other part of the satire heavily focused on Hollywood celebrities as political activists. This film’s satire is the sort of discourse that outlives its time period because of its raw and visceral delivery.
The film portrays the heroes as patriotic airheads who continually storm into battle against terrorists, but leave a massive amount of destruction to the surrounding country in their wake. This is clearly a satire of the American foreign policy of the Bush presidency. The film’s protagonists are heroic, but they are also massively flawed in their actions.
The film has several categories of antagonist. The most prominent is the then-ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, who is portrayed in a very stereotypical light and has all the makings of an egotistical dictator. The other group of antagonists in the film is Hollywood celebrities that take on the role of political spokes-heads who title themselves the Film Actors Guild. The group is portrayed as somewhat nefarious.
One standout quote from the film comes from a puppet version of Janeane Garofolo, who says, “As actors, it is our responsibility to read the newspapers, and then say what we read on television like it’s our own opinion.”
Much of the film’s criticism came from critics who felt the film’s satire did not put George Bush on blast, or that it was too sympathetic to his agenda. I strongly disagree. The film aims a large portion of its satire at the ineptitude of Bush’s foreign policy, and in the end speech by the main protagonist, we learn that everyone is faulty.
That is likely why this film is polarizing among critics. It frames a picture of absurdity that paints all sides as flawed. Many people in 2004 were probably fed up with the Bush presidency and wanted out. While the film does not endorse Bush, it does not portray the presidency as villainous either.
Satire is a strange thing. It can stay relevant for generations, or it can become a non-factor and lose itself in time. The film I feel remains relevant as long as American foreign policy and celebrity culture remain topical. This film is important because it does go after both sides.
“Team America: World Police” is not necessarily a top tier film. Some of the humor may be too brash for people, and the effects of the film, while humorous, may not stand the test of time. One thing, however, is for certain: whenever I hear Matt Damon’s name mentioned, I burst out laughing. 9/10, must watch for fans of satire.