South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)

Am a fan of 'South Park', more so the earlier seasons than later. Initially thought before getting into it that it wouldn't be my cup of tea at all, but it ended up right up my street despite not being for the easily offended. And to be honest, it is very easy to see why 'South Park' won't be for all tastes and why its humour is controversial.Had heard nothing but good things about 'South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut', how great it was and how it did justice to the show in a way that few films based on series do (there are some disastrous ones out there). Seeing it, couldn't agree more with the acclaim and can see why people often put it on their favourite animated films lists (it's close to being on mine, and goes down as the boldest and one of the funniest). It absolutely does justice to the show and is every bit as good as it, and a fond reminder of the show in its prime years.It is perfect for fans, and also does a fantastic job at having enough to attract a wider audience, one of the few series-to-film translations to do so.Sure, some of the animation is crude and less than refined. Otherwise 'South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut' is difficult to criticise. Considering that the humour is controversial and normally bad taste doesn't bode well with me ('Freddy Got Fingered' for example is an incredibly tasteless film, and in such a gratuitous, disturbing and unfunny way that it's on my worst films list), but it's wholly dependent on how the lack of taste is handled, whether it's handled wittily and cleverly. 'South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut' is one such film.Was really surprised at how tuneful the songs were, some of the best actually of any animated film to not have Disney's name on it and perhaps some of the best songs of any musicals of the past 20 years. "Up There", "Wendy's Song" and "Hell isn't Good" are standouts. The story execution worked brilliantly too, it has its poignant moments and some truthful and relevant messaging that makes its point without being over the top. It doesn't feel padded or like an extended episode of the show, actually opening up the concept to something bigger and bolder. It's also an ambitious story, but the ambition doesn't get in the way of the execution, one ends up admiring the ambition and the execution.Like the show itself, a lot of the content is very controversial and not for the easily offended. is crude, extremely rude (every bit as much as 'Team America'), naughty, at times juvenile, often vulgar and less than subtle in its treatment of taboo subjects. At the same time, 'South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut', again like 'South Park', is hilarious, smart, witty and bold but also clever, sharp, irreverent and intelligent. The satirical humour is subversive and there are not many animated films this daring, risk-taking or bold and doing it in a way that doesn't feel like it's trying too hard. Completely contradicting the tired and incredibly annoying cliché spouted constantly that animation is only for children (often by parents defending a panned family film).Often one is shocked at how much the film, like the show, gets away with, which feels like almost everything. Every subject and every everyday issues is covered and satirised it seems, nothing escapes the writers. While subtlety completely goes out the window, so much of what 'South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut' says has a huge amount of truth and relevance. Like good satire should it does it in a daring and perhaps divisive fashion, not holding back and taking no prisoners. This should sound like a recipe for disaster, but actually to me it was why the show is so loved and admired and why the film has just as much appeal.Before one forgets, the characters are some of the most memorable and iconic in recent animation, especially Cartman. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's voice work is a practical tour-De-force for both, both bringing so much individuality and personality to these characters and their writing. The regrettably late Mary Kay Bergman and Isaac Hayes also delight.Overall, brilliant, as a representation of 'South Park' and as a film in general. Just know what you're letting yourself in for before watching. It's animated satire at its finest and bad taste has never been funnier. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I am a huge fan of South Park. So I knew I would love the movie. This was written perfectly. I loved the songs! Don't tell me you don't sing along to "Blame Canada" or "What would Brian Boitano do". It's an awesome story with new and old characters. It's hilarious from Gregory, to Stan, to Kyle, to Kenny, to Cartman, to the Mole. There wasn't any joke that I didn't laugh at. the ending was beautiful and satisfying. Even the title is a hidden joke! Matt and Trey have really outdone themselves, and still do. This movie was just, a miracle. Not to mention they REVEALED KENNY UNDER THE HOOD!! He looks as sexy as I thought he would. Let's give a round of applause to South Park studios and Matt and Trey for this masterpiece. Thank you!

Well as I am not a big fan of South Park the television series then a lot of the movie was going to be lost on me.The film is rude, crude and with its cheap looking animation but with lots of musical numbers including the Oscar nominated Blame Canada.The film's main focus is censorship with a side trip to Kenny finding himself in hell and finding out that Satan and Saddam Hussein are gay lovers.Third graders Stan, Cartman, Kenny and Kyle bribe a drunken vagrant to get them into a R rated movie featuring hip Canadian comedians Terrance and Philip who curse and fart a lot. Next day at school they horrify their teachers with their new found vocabulary and once the parents become aware of this crude film, they are so outraged that they want to declare war with Canada.The film would go down a treat with South Park fans but despite a few laughs it was not for me and the it felt stretched with the longer running time.

True to its title, this big screen version of the popular animated TV series features more violence, profanity and obscenities than any prior episodes of the show. The film is not, however, offensive simply for the sake of it; the plot is full of satirical bite as the story focuses on four boys watching a controversial motion picture (not unlike the one that they are in!) and the over-the-top reactions of the local community when they start repeating obscene phrases that they heard. Intelligent debate is brought up in terms of whether offensive language or graphic violence is more dangerous and there is something pointed in how everything culminates in war simply over words. The relative innocence of the boys is notable too; as they say in song, "the movies teach us what our parents don't have time to say"; they are only curious about the adult world and are not interested in offending anyone. Cartman aside, the boys do not repeat any of the obscenities from the film-within in hate. Interesting as all this might sound, the movie runs out of steam well before the credits roll and the carnage towards the end comes across as a rather mindless. The series consists of half-hour episodes after all, and running at nearly three times that length, it is perhaps only inevitable that the material does not stretch out that well. There have also been several better satirical episodes released in the years since this feature length treatment came out, but full of bright songs and quirky characters, 'Bigger Longer & Uncut' does quite well for what it is.