AllMovie

There are two distinct reasons that South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut should be appreciated. First, it is one of the few major Hollywood releases that directly addresses the way the entertainment industry and parents both shape youth culture. The satire on this point is sharp and uncompromising. The adults recognize the Terrence and Phillip movie for what it is -- stupid and vulgar. Instead of discussing it with their kids, the parents choose a scapegoat. Secondly, this is one of the best movie musicals of the '90s. Trey Parker, working closely with soundtrack guru Marc Shaiman, created a dozen original songs that spoofed popular music, and, more impressively, beloved Broadway musicals like +Les Miserables and +The Sound of Music. Their Oscar nomination for Best Song was a (probably grudging) acknowledgement that they had crafted songs that added characterization and advanced the plot, while also working as both parody and entertainment even when removed from the context of the film. Not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut is a hybrid of styles rarely seen in movies. It is both an uncompromising satire, and a brilliant musical.