From the twisted comedic minds of Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg, writer-producers behind outlandish yet hilarious comedies like Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This is the End, comes Sausage Party, a film centering on various grocery store foods and products facing an existential crisis after learning everything they believe is a lie. It is the duo’s first attempt at using animation as a medium, but they do not fail in creating something that is just as original, raunchy, offensive, and consistently funny as past films while also providing commentary on problematic current events.
After opening with an R-rated musical tune sang by the assorted foods, the story begins on the morning of July 4th weekend showing how these humanized products are hopeful of being chosen by the gods (the customers) and led to the Great Beyond where a heavenly fate awaits. For some of the foods, like the hotdog Frank (Seth Rogan) and the bun Brenda (Kristen Wiig), being selected means they could finally consummate their romance; something unachievable due to their plastic encasings. But after a deeply traumatized Honey Mustard (Danny McBride) warns his fellow products there is only death and horror, Frank begins a quest for answers. What he finds is Earth-shattering, and he becomes determined to save his fellow foods and he from their impending doom.
Although the films poses the lofty theological notion of the effects upon learning God isn’t real, there is enough sexual references and innuendo (with some being borderline X-rated), as well as impure humor using racial and ethnic stereotypes as its ammunition, to remind viewers this is still a comedy first and foremost. That being said, this film is definitely not for those who are easily offended by these certain jokes since they primarily makeup the film’s gags; tacos are Mexican, potatoes are Irish, fruits are homosexuals, bagels are Jews, and lavashes are Middle Eastern. That’s just the tip of the iceberg as there is also a box of Mr. Grits (Craig Robinson) who hates crackers, a Native American liquor Firewater (Bill Hader) who constantly smokes weed, a wheelchair-confined piece of gum akin to Stephen Hawking, and a literal douche (Nick Kroll) who acts as the villain with the personality of, well, a douche. It’s obvious one of the film’s aims was to push every boundary possible, which Rogan and Goldberg did with a style that throws up two very large middle fingers to the PC culture this world, but mostly our country, has morphed into. This agenda culminates in a scene that combines the words “food” and “orgy” in a way you would never imagine.
Aside from all of that, Sausage Party also shows an influence from other film genres like horror. It spoofs certain tropes like how sexual activity can lead to certain death, but really showcases horror’s impact through the ways a monster (in this case humans) brutally and mercilessly murders its victims in a fashion that may have you second guessing how you prep and eat your food. There is also a war movie homage similar to the Beaches of Normandy scene in Saving Private Ryan that has the hotdog, Frank, witnessing the carnage around him following a collision between shopping carts.
This all may seem like the makings of a film that is just a dumb comedy full of shock and vulgar jokes, but surprisingly there is more behind it. Rogan and Goldberg make an effort to comment on world issues such as the religious turmoils in the Middle East brought forth through the Jewish and Arabic foods arguing who has taken over whose territory on the grocery shelf. The method to the madness behind this humor is to explore the fears and small-mindedness that continue to keep people apart and prejudiced.
Sausage Fest is a lone bright spot in what has been a pretty disappointing summer for films. If none of this has rubbed you the wrong way, then Sausage Fest is going to have you laughing from start to finish, while also have you leaving with questions to contemplate.
7.6/10
Lopes
Letters from Lopes 