Team America: World Police

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Team America: World Police
File:Team america poster 300px.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Trey Parker
Produced by Scott Rudin
Trey Parker
Matt Stone
Pam Brady
Frank C. Agnone II
Amine Tay
Anne Garefino
Michael Polaire
Written by Trey Parker
Matt Stone
Pam Brady
Starring Trey Parker
Matt Stone
Kristen Miller
Masasa
Daran Norris
Phil Hendrie
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography Bill Pope
Editing by Tom Vogt
Studio Scott Rudin Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) October 14, 2004 (2004-10-14) (Denver)
October 15, 2004 (2004-10-15)
Running time 98 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $30 million
Gross revenue $50,907,422

Team America: World Police is a 2004 action comedy film written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady and directed by Parker, all of whom are also known for the popular animated series South Park. 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 American politics. The title of the film itself is derived from domestic and international political criticisms that the U.S. frequently and unilaterally tries to "police the world".

The film features a cast composed of marionettes (except for two live cats, two nurse sharks, a cockroach, and a man dressed as a giant statue of Kim Jong-il). Team America focuses on a fictional team of political paramilitary policemen known as "Team America: World Police," who attempt to save the world from a violent terrorist plot led by Kim Jong-il. The film was primarily inspired by Thunderbirds, a popular British TV show created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson which also featured an all-marionette cast, though Stone and Parker were not fans of the show.<ref>"Trey Parker and Matt Stone talk Team America: World Police". Movieweb.com. http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEc4pjfcrGTdfd. Retrieved 2010-11-20. </ref>

The film was released in the United States on October 15, 2004 and received mostly positive reviews. The film was released on DVD in the United States on May 17, 2005, available in both R-rated and Unrated versions. Since the film's release, it has made about $51 million worldwide.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Team America: World Police exists for the sole intention of stopping terrorists from performing evil deeds. With a home base located within the structure of Mount Rushmore, the team comprises Lisa, a young psychologist; Carson, Lisa's love interest; Sarah, an alleged psychic; Joe, a typical all-American jock who is in love with Sarah; and Chris, a technological and martial arts expert who harbors a deep yet mysterious mistrust of actors. The team is led by Spottswoode, a United States government agent, and the team's information is received by I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E., a highly-advanced supercomputer.

The story begins with the team interrupting the activities of a group of terrorists in Paris, France. During the ensuing firefight, the "Team" manages to lay waste to a good portion of the city, destroying the Eiffel Tower (which then collapses onto and destroys the Arc de Triomphe) and the Louvre among other structures. Following the action, Carson proposes to Lisa, but the moment is cut short when a surviving terrorist guns Carson down. In search of a new member, Spottswoode recruits Gary Johnston, a Broadway actor, starring in Lease, with college majors in Theater and World Languages. Gary is hired as a spy, utilizing his talents to infiltrate terrorist organizations. Unbeknownst to the team, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il is supplying international terrorists with weapons of mass destruction, planning a mysterious worldwide attack.

I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E. is informed of a terrorist meeting in Cairo, Egypt, and Gary successfully infiltrates their group; during this time, both Lisa and Sarah become romantically attracted to him. Chris, however, hates Gary, solely because of his resentment toward actors. Gary is sent in undercover; despite the fact that his disguise is extremely poor (with a wrapped towel being used in lieu of a turban), he successfully gains the trust of a terrorist lieutenant. The team attempts to capture the terrorists, and although Team America successfully foils the terrorist plan, their actions again leave most of the city in ruins. The group is criticized by the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G.), a union of liberal Hollywood actors. The group includes Gary's favorite actor, Alec Baldwin, and his heavy criticism is very discouraging to Gary. Meanwhile, the United Nations assign Hans Blix with the task of inspecting Kim Jong-il's lair, but the investigator is killed by Kim Jong-il's man-eating sharks. As the team relaxes following their victory, Gary expresses his guilt to Lisa, remembering a time where his acting talent caused his brother to be killed by gorillas. As the two express their feelings and have sex (after Gary promises that he'll never die), a group of terrorists blow up the Panama Canal.

The Film Actors Guild blames Team America, believing that they (rather than the terrorists or the person who supplied them with WMDs) are responsible for the terrorists' actions, as the terrorists claim this is retaliation for Team America's attack in Egypt. Gary, realizing his acting talents have once again resulted in tragedy, abandons the team, causing considerable conflict among the remaining members. Believing the terrorists to be operating within Derkaderkastan, the original members depart, only to be attacked and captured by terrorists and the North Koreans respectively. Meanwhile, Michael Moore infiltrates the team's base and destroys their equipment by suicide bombing the area. Kim Jong-il, upset with the terrorists' actions, expresses his frustration and despair by singing "I'm So Ronery". Meanwhile, a very depressed Gary becomes an alcoholic, only to be reminded of his responsibility by a drunken drifter, who compares the world's three dominant personalities to "dicks", "pussies", and "assholes" respectively. Gary then vomits repeatedly for 56 seconds running time.

In North Korea, Kim Jong-il reveals his plan to host an elaborate peace ceremony, inviting not only the Film Actors Guild but also the world's political leaders. Alec is chosen as the ceremony's host. During the celebration, a series of bombs will be detonated throughout the world, reducing every nation to a Third World country. Gary returns to Mount Rushmore and finds the area in ruin, although Spottswoode and I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E have survived. After regaining Spottswoode's trust by performing oral sex on him, and undergoing a one-day training course (deliberately shown in a cliché montage for comic effect), Gary is sent to North Korea.

Gary proceeds to infiltrate the lair and frees the team. They are confronted by the Film Actors Guild and a violent battle ensues, which involves panthers being released at the team, and leaving most of the Guild brutally slain, with Alec being the remaining member as he is the host of the ceremony. Soon after, Chris confesses to Gary that his mistrust of actors is due to the fact that when he was 19 years old, meeting the cast of Cats, he was "felt up" by Rumpus Cat and Macavity, held down by Rumpleteazer, and raped by Mr. Mistoffelees. The team then confront Kim Jong-il. Although initially unsuccessful, Gary convinces the world's leaders to unite when he recites the drifter's emotional speech, stunning Alec. Kim Jong-il then kills Alec with an assault rifle, but is defeated by Lisa by being impaled on a Pickelhaube, as worn by the German Kaiser; and he is then revealed to be an alien cockroach from another planet named Gyron. Kim Jong-il flees, departing in a miniature spaceship, but promising to return. As Gary and Lisa begin a relationship, the team reunites, preparing to combat the remainder of the world's terrorists.

[edit] Voice cast

[edit] Individuals parodied

Famous people depicted as puppets in the film include Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Helen Hunt, George Clooney, Liv Tyler, Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon, Janeane Garofalo, Matt Damon, Samuel L. Jackson, Ellen Hughes, Richard Gregory, Danny Glover, Ethan Hawke, Kim Jong-il, Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth II, Peter Jennings, and Hans Blix. With the exception of Jennings, Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth (and Sheen, whose death is not shown despite being involved in the F.A.G. vs. Team America battle), all are killed in dramatic and extremely violent ways. As is usually the case with South Park, none of the voices used are those of the personalities portrayed.

Reactions from those parodied were mixed. Alec Baldwin reportedly found the project amusing and expressed interest in lending his voice to his character,<ref>"Team America speaks!". MovieWeb. October 12, 2004. http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEuP6BxvOpX2yv. Retrieved 2010-07-07. </ref> while Sean Penn, who is portrayed making outlandish claims about how happy and utopian Iraq was before Team America showed up, sent Parker and Stone an angry letter inviting them to tour Iraq with him, ending with the words "fuck you."<ref>"Letter by Sean Penn". DrudgeReport Archives. October 8, 2004. http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2004/10/09/20041009_195805_penn.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-14. </ref> Both George Clooney and Matt Damon are said to be friends with Stone and Parker, and Clooney has stated that he would have been insulted had he not been included in the movie.<ref>"Clooney Supports Team America Duo". 2006-01-31. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/clooney%20supports%20team%20america%20duo_30_01_2006. "...the Hollywood big-hitters all insist they would have been offended to be left out of the film." </ref> While Damon was originally meant to be an intelligent person in the movie, Stone and Parker saw during production that his puppet was so malformed it "looked retarded". Inspired by an anecdote Damon tells in which he relates his fatigue with people coming up to him and shouting his name, they decided to have him only able to say his name, like Timmy in South Park.[citation needed]

Kim Jong-il, a noted film buff,<ref>"North Korean leader loves Hennessey, Bond movies", CNN, Janunary 8, 2003</ref> has never commented publicly about his depiction in Team America: World Police, although shortly after its release North Korea asked the Czech Republic to ban the movie.<ref>"'Team America' unsettles Team Kim in Pyongyang". Worldtribune.com. http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/breaking2453411.0520833335.html. Retrieved 2010-11-20. </ref> The filmmakers acknowledged this in a DVD extra and jokingly suggested he sing "I'm So Ronery".

Michael Moore is depicted as a fat, hot dog eating glutton who partakes in suicide bombing and is referred to as a "giant socialist weasel" by the supercomputer. Stone explained the reason for this portrayal in an MSNBC interview:

We have a very specific beef with Michael Moore...I did an interview, and he didn't mischaracterize me or anything I said in Bowling for Columbine. But what he did do was put this cartoon [titled A Brief History of the United States of America, written by Moore, animated and directed by Harold Moss] right after me that made it look like we did that cartoon.<ref name="msnbc 6228221">"‘Team America’ takes on moviegoers". msnbc.com. October 15, 2004. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6228221/. </ref>

A deleted scene also shows Meryl Streep and Ben Affleck (who is portrayed with a real-life hand).

[edit] Reception

Team America made $12.1 million in its opening U.S. weekend. The film eventually grossed a total of almost $51 million, with $32.8 million in U.S. domestic receipts and $18.1 million in international proceeds.<ref>"Team America: World Police (2004)". http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=teamamerica.htm. </ref>

Reviews of the film were generally positive. It rated a 78% ("fresh") at Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Team America will either offend you or leave you in stitches. It'll probably do both." The Metacritic rating is 64/100 ("generally favorable reviews").

Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson was supposed to have met Trey Parker before production, but they cancelled the meeting, acknowledging he would not like the film's expletives. Anderson felt "there are good, fun parts [in the film] but the language wasn't to my liking".<ref>Hassan, Genevieve (2008-10-07). "Talking Shop: Gerry Anderson". BBC News Online. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7655589.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-13. </ref>

National Review Online has named the film #24 in its list of 'The Best Conservative Movies'. Brian C. Anderson wrote, "the film’s utter disgust with air-headed, left-wing celebrity activism remains unmatched in popular culture."<ref>Miller, John (February 23, 2009). "The Best Conservative Movies". National Review Online. http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/?q=YWQ4MDlhMWRkZDQ5YmViMDM1Yzc0MTE3ZTllY2E3MGM=. Retrieved August 19, 2009. </ref> However, political and social commentator Andrew Sullivan considers the film brilliant in its skewering of both the left and right's approach on terrorism. Sullivan (a fan of Stone and Parker's other work, as well) popularized the term "South Park Republican" to describe himself and other like-minded fiscal conservatives/social libertarians. Parker himself is a registered Libertarian.<ref>Winter, Bill. "Trey Parker - Libertarian". Advocates for Self-Government. http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/trey-parker.html. Retrieved 2008-12-13. "When asked to describe his politics, Parker said he was "a registered Libertarian."" </ref>

[edit] Filmmakers' response

In an interview with Matt Stone following the film's release,<ref>"Interview with Matt Stone". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/01/13/matt_stone_team_america_interview.shtml. </ref> Anwar Brett of the BBC asked the following question. "For all the targets you choose to take pot-shots at," he asked, "George W. Bush isn't one of them. How come?" Matt Stone replied, "If you want to see Bush-bashing in America you only have to walk about 10 feet to find it. Trey and I are always attracted to what other people aren't doing. Frankly that wasn't the movie we wanted to make."

In another interview, Parker and Stone further clarified the end of the film which seems to justify the role of the United States as the "World Police".<ref>"Puppet Masters - Interview with Matt Stone and Trey Parker". Salon.com. http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2004/10/12/parker_stone/index1.html. </ref>

Because that's the thing that we realized when we were making the movie. It was always the hardest thing. We wanted to deal with this emotion of being hated as an American. That was the thing that was intriguing to us, and having Gary (the main character) deal with that emotion. And so, him becoming ashamed to be a part of Team America and being ashamed of himself, he comes to realize that, just as he got his brother killed by gorillas -- he didn't kill his brother; he was a dick, he wasn't an asshole -- so too does America have this role in the world as a dick. Cops are dicks, you fucking hate cops, but you need 'em.

[edit] Music

65x50px
Harry Gregson-Williams - "Team America March"
Main theme of the 2004 film Team America: World Police.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.
Marc Shaiman was originally hired to compose the original score and help Trey Parker compose the film's songs. He helped compose "Everyone Has AIDS" and "Derka Derk (Terrorist Theme)". He submitted a score, but the studio rejected it and fired Shaiman, hiring Harry Gregson-Williams as a last minute replacement (Parker had instructed Shaiman to score the film as if it were a typical action movie, which they agreed would make the movie funnier, while the studio felt the score should play up the comedy). However, Shaiman still conducted the orchestra in the film's scoring sessions.

The film's songs include:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Unknown extension tag "references"

[edit] External links

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