South Park: The End of Obesity

7/10

In the most recent South Park special, Cartman (voiced by show co-creator Trey Parker) wants to lose weight with Ozempic, but has to struggle with the American healthcare system when his insurance won't cover it.

The highlight of this are the really pointed jabs at the health insurance industry. The creators savagely rip apart how broken it is. (There is one bit addressing how healthcare works that is the highlight of EoO).

When it comes to the other topics: Ozempic, and the show's satire of how rich people are using it to lose weight while it's originally intended for diabetes, the sugar industry, and the topic of body image, the messaging is a little more mixed. This is one of those South Park entries where Parker and other showrunner Matt Stone try to address concept issues by being a little complex, and it's harder to understand their exact meaning. Not to say that this subject matter doesn't mine some decent jokes.

Lightly recommended. Can't say this is South Park's best, but it's a fine time. Plus, it's worth it for that one bit I mentioned.

South Park: Joining the Panderverse

8/10

In this new South Park special on Paramount+, the South Park boys face the threat of their universe merging into one where are all the cast are multicultural women. 

This may be one of the show's cleverest satires in the last few years.  It pokes fun at both Disney movie pandering and those who get upset at anything the slightest bit "woke" at the same time and how a lot of franchises are taking advantage of the multiverse craze. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, much how they expressed their dislike of Family Guy and its reliance on cut-away jokes, deliver some probably honestly held beliefs of theirs about the overextension of multiverses through the South Park boys' dialogue. I appreciate that they are nuanced and not 100% one-sided when addressing the topics.

The writers were clearly having fun with the "woke" South Park universe idea. It's particularly funny seeing all the kids being played by adults who speak the exact same way the kids would. Stuntwoman Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, who also plays one of the Dora Milaje in the Black Panther movies, voices Diverse Cartman. Her delivery of Cartman's lines is pretty funny. She's not mimicking his unique cranky voice, but she gets all the nuance of his selfishness down flat. Kenny's muffled voice usually hides the fact that his dialogue is the dirtiest of the main quartet. Diverse Kenny (Diana Lauren Jones) has no coat covering her mouth, and seeing a woman sincerely delivering all of Kenny's dirty, hormonal boy dialogue makes for a fun time. Montana Jacobowitz completely nails Butters' gullibility and anxiety. Cartman (Parker) is sorta the main lead and again one of the funniest aspects of the show. He's best when he's his most paranoid and obsessive. Cartman's crazed, racist over-the-top fears of being replaced by diverse women are pretty entertaining as we see how increasingly desperate he gets.

The only downside to this is that the show really should've dipped its toe into the whole multiverse thing a lot more, and it felt like a lot of jokes and potential was left on the table. Thing is there's a B-plot. (It's not really mentioned in the promotional material, so I won't spoil the surprise of what it's about.) The satire of it is sound but just isn't as funny as the a-plot. It could've been its own half-hour episode. Plus, it stars Stan's dad Randy (Trey Parker), who I feel is really overexposed recently.

Recommended. Another prime example of the show's satire and both-sides, Libertarian-esque humor.

South Park: Post COVID, the Return of COVID

8/10

In this direct sequel and conclusion to South Park: Post COVID, future adult Stan (voiced by co-creator Trey Parker) and future adult Kyle (other co-creator Matt Stone) try to travel back in time in order to mend their friendship. 

This "movie" (really a special) maintains the quality from the original Post COVID, providing more prime South Park jokes. Admittedly, some of the gags felt repeated once too often.

Recommended. This wraps up the Post COVID story pretty well and gives South Park fans what they want.

South Park: Post-COVID

8/10

This is the first of the South Park movies being made for Paramount+. (Feels more like a special; it's only 59 minutes long and the animation doesn't seem any different from the show. But, they're calling it a movie, so alright.) Taking place forty years after the show where COVID has just ended, the characters reunite when a tragedy occurs and they become embroiled in a mystery.

The humor really pops here. The setting of the future is really used to its full comic potential. They do something particularly creative and amusing with what adult Cartman's life is like. 

The one weak spot is that like a lot of recent South Park episodes this film features a little too much of Stan's dad Randy (voiced by Trey Parker). Show creators Parker and Matt Stone seem too enamored of their creation. The basic assumption seems to be "Randy being dumb and selfish" = "Funny." Randy is simply overextended by now and his bits definitely feel like more of the same.

Overall, this is one of South Park's more solid entries and fans of the show should like this. It's definitely fun to see the kids as adults.

South ParQ Vaccination Special

 

9/10

South Park presents it's second COVID-19-themed special. The vaccines are coming out and practically everyone in town is trying to get one. 

I found this funnier than the last special, and bare in mind that I liked that one. SPVS seems to know more what it wants to be. A lot of good material is mined from both people's lack of patience for waiting for the COVID vaccinations to become available for all and the insanity of Qanon conspiracists. Also, the show does a pretty interesting and nutso job of reintroducing Mr. Garrison, whose appearances over the past few years had become more sparse due to his becoming president and serving as a representation Trump, back into the fold. 

Overall, I recommend this for all South Park fans.

South Park- The Pandemic Special

 

8/10

In this new special, the citizens of South Park deal with the various burdens of the coronavirus pandemic. This was enjoyable.

The Pandemic Special is classic South Park: funny, crazy satire. The one hour length allowed director/writer Trey Parker tackle all the aspects of the pandemic. (Not to mention a jab at the police situation.) As outrageous as things get, Parker is clearly trying to help people blow off steam from this horrible mess. The ending is probably one of the most poignant moments the show has ever gotten.

Now, this is also "typical" South Park. I wouldn't say this episode is considered one of the show's standouts.

Also, if you like South Park but sometimes it goes too far for you, this is one of those episodes that gets messed up.

Overall, I recommend this.