Seth Rogen debuted some of Sausage Party, an animated spoof on the Disney-Pixar feel-good movie genre, at South by Southwest last night, and critics agree that the movie will be not only hilarious but also a huge step for filmmaking in general.
Rogen has been extremely prolific in Hollywood during the 21st century and has starred in some films that have made Rogen the most successful[1] comedy star of the era. Seth's smash hits include Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, and This Is The End, as well as 18 other full-length live action films featuring Rogen over the last decade.
Seth Rogen at the premier of 'Knocked Up,' the movie that brought his name to the forefront of movie comedy. [Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]With such a busy schedule, you wouldn't figure Seth would have time to work on a film that Consequence of Sound reports has been eight years in the making.[2] In quiet, though, Rogen has been working away on the movie with production partner Evan Goldenberg. And they have not done it alone either; the voice cast for Sausage Party is incredible, including almost all the stars that have come to be known as a part of Seth Rogen's acting clique. Names of the movie's stars include Jonah Hill, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Michael Cera, Nick Kroll, and Salma Hayek.
You can view the trailer for Rogen's project below, but be aware that cursing abounds.
A partial version of Sausage Party, which will debut in full on August 12, was screened for a limited audience yesterday evening at South by Southwest[3], the film and media festival in Austin, TX. And critics who watched the partial version or saw the Red-Band trailer that Seth Rogen's Twitter account released shortly afterwards are already gushing about the movie.
You've seriously never seen anything like #SausageParty, and the ending is absolutely brilliant. I'm standing outside & still laughing #SXSW[4][5]
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) March 15, 2016[6]
Sausage Party was AMAZING. Never heard an audience laugh so hard. Seth Rogen & other crew/cast doing Q&A now. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/iryHsLziQK[7][8]
— Madeleine Kim (@madeleineykim) March 15, 2016[9]
These twitter reactions to SAUSAGE PARTY at #SXSW[10] make me so happy. Funniest script ever.
— David Krumholtz (@mrDaveKrumholtz) March 15, 2016[11]
The praise for Seth Rogen's Sausage Party as a comedy romp is basically universal, and many critics went beyond even that to say that Rogen's creation would become a bona fide cultural sensation.
@michaelroffman[12] when's the trailer gonna be up
— Brandon (@Loudfan123212) March 15, 2016[13]
The thing that puts Seth Rogen's Sausage Party on a level above most other comedies, even very funny ones, point out critics, is how fresh and innovative the idea behind it is. Cartoon Brew elaborated on this point.
"American animation is finally growing up. For the second year in a row, a major Hollywood studio will release an R-rated animated feature. For the record, this has never happened before, and whatever you think of the two releases – Anomalisa and Sausage Party – the availability of these films could have a far-reaching impact on the future of Hollywood animation – and perhaps an awakening amongst Hollywood execs that animation doesn't have to be relegated to the kiddie matinee crowd."
This suggests that, if Seth's Sausage Party is as successful as people think it might be, it could have far-reaching implications that forever change how American media for adults is produced.
Animated films meant for adults are by no means unheard of, but they are rare, and fans are making it apparent that their scarcity is not due to lack of demand.
It took 17 years but SAUSAGE PARTY is finally the R-rated smart and crazy animated comedy we've wanted since the SOUTH PARK movie. #SXSW[14]
— Matt Dentler (@MattDentler) March 15, 2016[15]
But the one major complaint that many critics shared regarding Seth Rogen's brainchild was that the same old joke — cute animated characters swearing like sailors — was a bit overused in the movie.
Well, there has never been an animated movie anything like SAUSAGE PARTY. Starts feeling one-joke, ends in a brilliant, uh, climax. #SXSW[16]
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) March 15, 2016[17]
This could put a damper on an "animated movies for adults" trend if it turns out to be accurate, as it almost mocks the animated format simply by being part of the movie's comedic material.
Either way, though, it looks as if Seth Rogen's Sausage Party will delight movie-goers across the nation this summer.
[Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival]
References
- ^ most successful (www.cinemablend.com)
- ^ in the making. (consequenceofsound.net)
- ^ South by Southwest (www.sxsw.com)
- ^ #SausageParty (twitter.com)
- ^ #SXSW (twitter.com)
- ^ March 15, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ #SXSW (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/iryHsLziQK (t.co)
- ^ March 15, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ #SXSW (twitter.com)
- ^ March 15, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ @ michaelroffman (twitter.com)
- ^ March 15, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ #SXSW (twitter.com)
- ^ March 15, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ #SXSW (twitter.co m)
- ^ March 15, 2016 (twitter.com)
