Team America: World Police (2004)
Coming Out at 15 October 2004 in theaters.
Action, Comedy
Team America: World Police is action–comedy film directed by Trey Parker and written by Parker, Matt Stone and Pam Brady, all of whom are also known for the popular animated television series South Park. Starring Parker, Stone, Kristen Miller, Masasa Moyo, Daran Norris, Phil Hendrie, Maurice LaMarche, Chelsea Marguerite, Jeremy Shada and Fred Tatasciore, the film is a satire of big-budget action films and their associated clichés and stereotypes, with particular humorous emphasis on the global implications of the politics of the United States. The title is derived from domestic and international political criticisms that the foreign policy of the United States frequently and unilaterally tries to “police the world”. Team America follows the fictional titular paramilitary police force and their recruitment of a Broadway actor in an attempt to save the world from North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, who is leading a conspiracy of Islamic terrorists and liberal Hollywood actors in a bid for global destruction.
Instead of live actors, the film uses a style of puppetry based on Supermarionation, known for its use in the British TV series Thunderbirds, although Stone and Parker were not fans of that show. The duo worked on the script with former South Park writer Brady for nearly two years. The film had a troubled time in production, with various problems regarding the marionettes, as well as the scheduling extremes of having the film come out in time. In addition, the filmmakers fought with the Motion Picture Association of America, who returned the film over nine times with an NC-17 rating due to an explicit sex scene in the film. The film was cut by less than a minute and rated R for “graphic crude and sexual humor, violent images and strong language – all involving puppets”.
Team America, a paramilitary counter-terrorist police force, eliminates a gang of terrorists in Paris, accidentally destroying the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre in the process. The team includes Lisa, a young psychologist; her love interest Carson; Sarah, a psychic; Joe, a jock who is in love with Sarah; and Chris, a martial arts expert who harbors a deep hatred of actors. Carson proposes to Lisa, but a terrorist shoots him dead as he is doing it.
Director: Trey Parker
Writers: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Pam Brady
Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Elle Russ, Kristen Miller, Masasa Moyo, Daran Norris, Maurice LaMarche
Cast:
Trey Parker | … | Gary Johnston / Joe / Kim Jong Il / Hans Blix / Carson / Matt Damon / Drunk in Bar / Tim Robbins / Sean Penn / Michael Moore / Helen Hunt / Susan Sarandon / Others (voice) |
Matt Stone | … | Chris / George Clooney / Danny Glover / Ethan Hawke / Additional Voices (voice) |
Kristen Miller | … | Lisa (voice) |
Masasa Moyo | … | Sarah (voice) |
Daran Norris | … | Spottswoode (voice) |
Phil Hendrie | … | I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E. / Chechnyan Terrorist (voice) |
Maurice LaMarche | … | Alec Baldwin (voice) |
Chelsea Marguerite | … | French Mother (voice) |
Jeremy Shada | … | Jean Francois (voice) |
Fred Tatasciore | … | Samuel L. Jackson (voice) |
John D. Kim | … | Guard / Korean Pilot / Others (voice) |
Paul Louis | … | Various (voice) |
Christine Papalexis | … | Various (voice) |
Elle Russ | … | Various (voice) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia