The next logical step

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 1999)

I always worry when a TV show makes the jump from the small screen to the big one -- LOST IN SPACE is a prime example of why I worry. Fortunately, SOUTH PARK didn't suffer from the TV-to-movie jinx thanks to the brilliance of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, two guys who thumbed their noses at the MPAA with flair and side-splitting satire.
People who say that this movie was simply pointless and an obvious attempt to cash in while the series is still popular were probably watching a different movie. BIGGER, LONGER, AND UNCUT rightly skewers parents who ignore their parental responsibilities and hand over the task of raising their children to TV and movies. Sheila Broslofski epitomizes the uptight parent who screams in horror when she discovers her child is talking like every other child in the country. She also represents interest groups that push the government (literally, in the case of the movie) towards their own goals -- in Mrs. Broslofski's case, laying blame on another country that actually belongs to her. Even America's beloved military get reminded about their questionable methods of classifying soldiers for use in different assignments, like "Operation Human Shield."
As for the songs, some people have said they're disruptive and boring. Word of advice for those people: try *listening* to the lyrics -- they're pure genius! From the hilarious "Uncle F**ka" to the rousing, LES MISERABLE-parodying "La Resistance" medley, the songs are entertaining and integral to characterization. What better way to show Satan's longing to live on the surface world than to have him sing "Up There?"
The argument that BIGGER is supposed to be a comedy and not a musical doesn't wash for an instant: how many musicals have there been that were *not* comedies? The two are practically synonymous in American cinema. And again, the songs are, themselves, comedic -- they don't detract from the humor, they *contribute* to it.
While BIGGER didn't do the same kind of business that TARZAN or PRINCE OF EGYPT did, it certainly was more topical and relevant to what's going on in America today. The MPAA and all the holier-than-thou watchdogs out there should watch this movie over and over -- they could stand to learn a thing or two.