Team America: World Police (2004)
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An international counterterrorism force uses a Broadway actor to infiltrate a terrorist cell in a world of puppets.
The story
Team America, an international counterterrorism organization, faces a global threat from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, who is supplying weapons to a coalition of terrorists. To combat this, the team recruits a Broadway actor, Gary Johnston, to use his acting skills to infiltrate a terrorist cell in Cairo. The film serves as a satirical take on action movie tropes, American militarism, and the complexities of foreign policy. The narrative follows the team as they navigate high-stakes missions while dealing with the consequences of their heavy-handed tactics and the involvement of various Hollywood figures.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a reckless operation in Paris destroys several landmarks, Team America recruits Broadway actor Gary Johnston to infiltrate a terrorist cell in Cairo. While Gary infiltrates the cell, the team is forced into a chase that leaves Cairo in ruins, sparking a backlash from the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G.). Amidst the chaos, Kim Jong Il supplies WMDs globally. Gary and a team member, Lisa, grow close while the Panama Canal is destroyed. Following a series of defeats and a suicide attack by Michael Moore, Gary is inspired by a 'drunken tramp's' speech to return to the fold. He eventually infiltrates a North Korean base, rescues the team, and confronts the F.A.G. In a final confrontation, Gary delivers a recontextualized speech that unites world leaders. Kim Jong Il is revealed to be an extraterrestrial cockroach before fleeing, and the team prepares for future missions.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Trey Parker
- Writers
- Trey Parker · writer; Matt Stone · writer; Pam Brady · writer
- Cast and characters
- Trey Parker · Gary Johnston/Joe Smith/Carson/Kim Jong Il/Hans Blix/Osama bin Laden/Matt Damon/Tim Robbins/Sean Penn/Michael Moore/Helen Hunt/Peter Jennings/Susan Sardon/Liv Tyler/Janeane Garofalo; Matt Stone · Chris Roth/George Clooney/Danny Glover/Ethan Hawke/Martin Sheen; Kristen Miller · Lisa Jones; Masasa Moyo · Sarah Wong; Daran Norris · Spottswoode; Phil Hendrie · I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E./Chechen terrorist; Maurice LaMarche · Alec Baldwin/Ben Affleck (Deleted Scene); Chelsea Marguerite · a French mother; Jeremy Shada · Jean Francois; Fred Tatasciore · Samuel L. Jackson
- Genres
- comedy; satire; action
- Themes
- militarism; foreign policy; celebrity culture
- Tone and mood
- satirical; absurd; violent
- Setting
- Various global locations including Paris, Cairo, Mount Rushmore, Panama Canal, and North Korea.
- Premise and plot tags
- puppet film; political satire; action parody
- Source material / true-story basis
- Inspired by the television series Thunderbirds and the action film Megaforce.
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was praised for its production design and satirical elements, though some critics found it's tone to be nihilistic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 77% · review count: 198; Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 38
- Awards and nominations
- Greatest comedy film · The Guardian · 4th; Best film · The Guardian · 10th
- Production trivia
- The film's production was troubled by technical issues with the puppets.; The film was initially threatened with an NC-17 rating by the MPAA.; The film features a variety of puppets, including a cockroach and a man dressed as a giant statue.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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