When SXSW announced late in the game that they would be screening a work-in-progress version of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s R-rated animated comedy, SAUSAGE PARTY, fans couldn’t contain their excitement — and it showed tonight. The line to the Paramount Theater in Austin started nearly an hour and a half (maybe two) hours before the screening happened. The line snaked around the block and across the street for another block, but they managed to fit every single person into the theater to see this filthy treasure — and using the word, “filthy” is being modest.
Well, it was inevitable that the animated feature would be filthy (and disturbingly so). The title alone suggests phallic tendencies and with Rogen and Goldberg teaming up with Ariel Shaffir and Kyle Hunter (The Night Before) to pen the script, you’re probably not in for a Veggie Tales-type story — but to add some family-friendly flair they tapped directors Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends) and Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens). Also, take a look at the image (see above) that has been circulating. There is a hot dog bun that looks like a vagina and, of course, there’s the wiener.
It would be totally unfair to review this movie in its “work-in-progress” state. That would be like eating a half-baked cake. Even so, there was enough of the movie screened at SXSW to tell you that this is breaking some major ground when it comes to R-rated, nasty-as-they-wannabe animation. The movie is even more offensively glorious than the standard pot-induced shenanigans we’ve come to expect from Rogen and his camp. It’s broad enough to appease the masses, yet it has enough clever takeaways and bits to satisfy comedy nerds.
The movie tells the story of the lives of food and products in a grocery store — like Toy Story, but instead of Woody and Buzz Lightyear battling for top toy, there’s a bagel and lavash battling for to Jewish-friendly carb. The story focuses on a sausage named Frank and his relationship with a sexy bun named Brenda (Kristen Wiig). Following a major accident, Frank and his friends get split up and he eventually leads his supermarket friends on an epic journey to discover the truth about their lives and what really happens when they are “chosen” by the Gods to leave the grocery store while a bullying douche bottle (yes, a real douche bottle) is out to get him. The raunchy animated romp features also features Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Nick Kroll, David Krumholtz, as well as Edward Norton as a Woody Allen-sounding bagel, and Salma Hayek as a horny taco.
I’ll save the full review for theatrical (as it should be) and just tell you this much: it’s funny. Really funny (did you see the voice cast?). And it has an opening musical number. Ultimately, Sausage Party gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘food porn’.
For the complete schedule and details of the films at SXSW, visit sxsw.com. Follow all of Tracking Board’s coverage of SXSW here.
Dino-Ray Ramos | Staff Writer
