South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut is important for numerous reasons. At the time, the TV series South Park was a strong ratings winner for Comedy Central, but with the film it really helped put Matt Stone & Trey Parker on the map which eventually lead to the duo getting the chance to do other projects in film, Broadway, music, and soon, deepfake projects.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a 1999 American adult animated musical comedy film based on the animated television series South Park. The film was directed by series co-creator Trey Parker, and written by Parker, along with series co-creator Matt Stone. The film is a satirical depiction of the controversy surrounding the show, as well as a commentary on censorship and the entertainment industry.
The film follows the main characters of the series, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny, as they sneak into an R-rated Canadian film, “Terrance and Phillip: Asses of Fire,” which leads to a wave of profanity and immorality in South Park. The movie also features a number of musical numbers, parodying popular musical films of the time such as “The Lion King” and “Les Miserables.”
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $83 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of 1999, and the highest-grossing R-rated adult animated comedy film until being surpassed by Sausage Party in 2016 (technically Ted is a hybrid) . The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for “Blame Canada.” At this award ceremony, Matt Stone and Trey Parker famously came to the awards show high on LSD and dressed as Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow respectively, with the former actually later being confronted by Lopez and shoved.
The legacy of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is one of controversy and satire. The film’s depiction of profanity and immorality, as well as its commentary on censorship and the entertainment industry, drew criticism from some groups, but also praise for its fearless approach to tackling sensitive subjects. The film’s success also solidified South Park’s place as a cultural phenomenon, and cemented the series’ status as one of the most influential and important animated television shows of all time.
In addition, the film’s musical numbers are still considered some of the best in the animated film genre, with the song “Blame Canada” gaining a cult following and even being performed at the Academy Awards ceremony and later at South Park’s 25th Anniversary concert.
Overall, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a film that continues to be remembered and celebrated for its bold approach to satire, its fearless tackling of sensitive subjects, and its memorable musical numbers. Its legacy is one of cultural significance and influence in the world of animation and satire.
While it’s cool that Paramount+ has been releasing made-for-TV specials on it’s streaming service, one hopes that we get a true theatrical follow-up to South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.
No word yet on when new of anything of South Park is on the horizon, but Matt Stone & Trey Parker have bought and are reopening the famed Casa Bonita sometime in May 2023 which is a restaurant featured in the adult animated comedy series.
Synopsis:
South Park,” created by comic geniuses Trey Parker and Matt Stone, features the breathtakingly irreverent and ruthlessly funny misadventures of four foul-mouthed, troublemaking young boys in a small town nestled in the Colorado Rockies. It has been praised by the prestigious Peabody® committee as “COMEDY CENTRAL’s notoriously rude, undeniably fearless lampoon of all that is self-important and hypocritical in American life, regardless of race, creed, color or celebrity status.” We couldn’t agree more.
“South Park” continues to surprise even its most devoted fans each and every week. Known for its unbelievably immediate and ruthless responses to world events, “South Park’s” new episodes bring up-to-the-minute news and pop culture icons (including Al Gore, J. Lo, Kanye West, Oprah, Sir Elton John, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and P. Diddy) to the town of South Park for social commentary and good old-fashioned ridicule.
“South Park” launched on August 13, 1997 and is based on the animated short entitled, “The Spirit of Christmas.” Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are Executive Producers, along with Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bill Hader, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are Producers. “South Park’s” Web site is www.SouthPark.cc.com.