By Jared Huizenga – Contributing Writer
When I was in the fifth grade, I wrote a short story about the things that go on in a grocery store when the lights go out at night.
Had I known at the time that my general idea needed only a mastery of colorful language and a couple of decades spent hovering over a bong to be made into a movie, perhaps my life would have turned out different.
Alas, here I am to talk about “Sausage Party” – an R-rated animated comedy that the 1989 and 2016 versions of me would agree on … it’s funny. Like, really funny.
In “Sausage Party,” talking sausage, Frank (Seth Rogen), and his sausage cohorts, including Carl (Jonah Hill) and the runt of the litter, Barry (Michael Cera), are itching to get selected by the “Gods” – mainly so they get out of the supermarket and into the buns that occupy shelf space next to them. With any luck, Frank and his girlfriend, Brenda (Kristen Wiig), will be selected by the same God.
It’s not only do the buns and the sausages that believe in these deities – virtually every item from the lightbulbs to the toilet paper to the bananas believe in this higher power. Turns out these “Gods” are nothing more than shoppers and the only thing that happens after being chosen is death.
After being picked off of their shelf by a god, but before exiting the store, Frank and Brenda inexplicably exit their packages, helping to set off a chain of events that leaves them separated from their friends, several other foods dead, lands them a new enemy – Douche (Nick Kroll) – and leads them on an epic journey across the store back to their homes.
Along the way they meet a long list of interesting characters to aid them in their journey: a bagel – Sammy Bagel Jr. (Edward Norton); a lavash – Vash (David Krumholtz); a taco – Teresa (Salma Hayek); and a wise old bottle of liquor – Firewater (Bill Hader).
As I mentioned earlier, the first word that comes to mind with “Sausage Party” is “funny.” The second and third words that come to mind are “asinine” and “intelligent.” Some will probably throw “highly offensive” into the mix, although I’m not one of those people.
On its face, the idea of talking consumables and non-perishables is utterly ridiculous. And the fact that they’re sexually active, are into recreational drugs and use profanity simply add to the ridiculousness.
However, beneath all of the superficial vulgarity is a pretty poignant message: people, despite their differences – whether they’re political, religious, sexual or something else altogether – are basically the same at their cores. They want to be healthy and happy and be allowed the freedoms to accomplish those end goals.
Perhaps wrapping those pretty heavy ideas into a package that is decidedly fluffy will make it an easier pill to swallow.
Now, I will say that if you are easily offended by jokes about religion, race and sexual orientation, drug references, rampant profanity and thinly-veiled sexual references, you’ll definitely want to avoid “Sausage Party.” Those things are front and center throughout and unashamedly so. The bad thing about this brand of humor is that it plays up virtually every stereotype imaginable. The good thing about this brand of humor is that it doesn’t single out any one group of people – if you can think of a group of people, they’re probably put on blast at some point during the 88-minute runtime.
I’ve always been of the belief that the best way to not offend someone is to offend everyone.
If you keep that in mind, you’ll probably enjoy “Sausage Party” – at least a little bit. If, however, you’re incapable of checking your sensibilities at the door, taking a long look in the mirror and laughing at yourself for an hour and a half, then I suspect you’ll hate this movie from beginning to end.
(FYI, my story wrapped up with a violent battle that saw meat destroy vegetables by using mayonnaise bombs.)
★★★★ of ★★★★★
Jared Huizenga is a freelance movie critic. Follow his work at www.facebook.com/JaredMovies.