Team America: World Police

In an ever unstable world where terrorists and totalitarians ride roughshod over global security, a world where democracy and Western values are jeopardised daily, protection and prevention need to be administered, the American way. Hell yeah.

Enter Team America: World Police - a bad ass global force policing the world. Its HQ-based leader is Spottswoode, father figure and mentor to a team picked to be the ‘best of the best’ in their fields. All-star quarterback Joe, clairvoyant Sarah, psychologist Lisa and Chris (‘the best martial arts expert Detroit has to offer’) are joined by Gary, the main protagonist, plucked from Broadway to convert his immense acting talents into infiltrating the most dangerous terrorist networks on the planet. Their mission: to prevent world destruction at the hands of power-mad dictator Kim Jong Il and his global terrorist support, armed to the teeth with WMD. It’s the toughest of tough missions. But fear not, marionette heroes from the US of A are here to save the day. And dump all over anything that gets in their way.

It’s South Park does Thunderbirds – a homage to Gerry Anderson as a Jerry Bruckheimer action flick. There’s violence, sex (hilarious sex in fact), bad language and power rock. And, naturally, a breed of brilliant comedy instantly recognisable as being from the Matt Stone/Trey Parker stable. However, while Team America is trademark South Park style comedy with puppets, there’s more. Some genuine class. Behind the smokescreen of puppet strings and irreverent wit, there’s $30M of slick, stylish production - numerous subtle touches all highlighting the immense work of an obviously more-than-just-talented production team. From ironic product placement, to beautifully shot sequences, it’s the little touches that expose this quantum leap for Stone and Parker. Personally, Stone confesses it was all too much like hard work and they can’t wait to get back on Comedy Central to their ‘crappy animation’, and as you roll around bent-double in your seat, Team America never fails to remind you of it’s heritage. It is though, a step up from their norm and one that would be a crying shame if not revisited in some form.

Puppets kick ass!

http://www.teamamericamovie.com
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