Super-marionation, the dubious process which gave the world

such classics as "Thunderbirds" and "Fireball

XL5" has been usurped by America's two most scathing

satirists, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and pushed way over the

limit. If you thought "South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut" was

beyond the pale, think again. "Team America: World Police" has

given puppetry its due and then some.

Never intended for small children, "South Park" has

always made mince meat of every subject and celebrity they touch.

Just watch their recent skewering of Michael Jackson or Rob Reiner

from last season and you will see the "nothing is sacred" approach

in action.

Now the action has gone 3-D on the big screen with a plot cut

and pasted from today's headlines. The Taliban, North Korea,

and Hollywood's political elite become entwined in a ridiculous

globe-circling farce that mows everything down in its path. And

best of all, it's all set to music.

Another collection of tasteless tunes dots "Team America." An

absurd "Rent" parody named "Lease" starts

things off with a song about AIDS and it's all downhill

from there, but what a ride!

The audience I sat through this with was mostly young guys in

their early to late twenties. They were in hog heaven laughing

continuously through out the movie. I was right there with them

giggling at every excess and every tasteless detail. Watching

the wind being kicked out of so many overblown icons and sacred

cows has a certain appeal. It's nice to know that there

is something laughable left out there. You don't have to

be a cynic to enjoy this film, you just have to laugh like one.

Not for the young and innocent, "Team America" has

great big teeth and bites over and over again. Don't let

these doe-eyed puppets fool you. They have more attitude and

big screen charisma than anyone in the Film Actors Guild (FAG),

the fake, but incredibly lifelike group of concerned stars fighting

for everything Hollywood.

Alec Baldwin gets lambasted again, along with Helen Hunt, Matt

Damen, Tim Robbins, Janine Garafalo and too many others hotshots

to name here. Even Michael Moore is used to good effect. It's

not a flattering picture, just a very strange remake of the world

as it is today.

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