Comedy's concept a global gaffe -

'America' lacking unilateral humor

"Team America: World Police" is a comedic love story about puppets and their fluids.

And yet, it's only when said fluids are visible that the film is funny.

Why laugh at hackneyed humor about international political theatrics when you could guffaw at a marionette vomiting for three minutes?

We all know that, on the final scale, it's a-somethin' like this: 3) Kyoto; 2) Yalta; 1) Bile.

It's just that simple.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the co-creators of "South Park," have once again avoided intellectual rigor ("BASEketball," what?) and produced a movie that caters to their ready-and-willing niche market of profanity-hungry escapists.

Channeling the puppet theater mojo of "The Thunderbirds," a '50s-era action team 'toon, "Team America" tells the story of squad newcomer Gary Johnston, a Broadway success turned Uzi-strapped pointman.

As the team goes on its mission to stop Kim Jong-il's efforts to WMD the globe, Gary's self-questioning thespianity conflicts with the rest of the team's gung-ho modus operandi.

It's the most affective flick since the terrible live-action remake of "The Thunderbirds," released earlier this year. But let's not go and call the movie bad - it's not.

It's just not good, either.

An incident in the theater during the Friday late show perfectly encapsulated the "Team" paradox:

During a five-minute Kama Sutra montage of rampant puppet sex, a moviegoer in the middle of the crowd stops laughing, uncontrollably gasps and exclaims, "This is so stupid!"

But if anyone can elevate low-brow to high art, it's Stone and Parker. Along the way, the audience is treated to the classic "South Park" V-chip cues, including awkward shots, plenty-o-cussin' and jabs at the entertainment industry.

Sure, we'd all like to see pontificating Porsche owners cut down while monopolizing the soapbox, but the movie could've been more barbed if it contained political humor, of which it's oddly devoid.The current administration is swapped for Martin Sheen, and the parody-slanted flick's shelf life will suffer as a result.

Musical cues offer some of the most winning diversions, with choruses thundering "America/F--- yeah!" or lilting paeans to the utter decrepitness of "Pearl Harbor." (The movie.) But the ditties lack the richness of the Colorado schoolchildren's singalongs, even revisiting "South Park"'s recent montage number.

Ultimately, "Team America" suffers from the same effect that marred "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," a far superior franchise. Initially a low-fi production, the film loses its campy charm when laden with cinematic pans and dramatic shots. Granted, there are a handful of "they're just puppets" shots, but they falter after the first half. It's simply a frustrating movie.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker aren't simpletons. They go low so you don't have to - but they drop the ball by not turning their sights on the current political sphere.

The mahogany-and-foam cast of the international spoof, overall, is good for a throwaway laugh and an odd sex scene or two.

And they called it pupp'y love.

Contact the A&E Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.

SUBSCRIBE NOW