Team America: World Police (2004) [4K UHD Review]

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In 2004, Team America: World Police exploded onto screens like the profane, puppet-starring fever dream that only Trey Parker and Matt Stone could deliver. It was outrageous, offensive, and downright absurd—and it’s exactly what the world needed at the time. Crafted with the same biting satire that made South Park a cultural force, Team America didn’t just skewer action movies, politics, and celebrity culture—it nuked them from orbit, all while making us laugh hysterically at the sheer audacity of its puppet-driven insanity. Nearly two decades later, with its brand-new 4K UHD release from Paramount, Team America still feels as irreverent and boundary-pushing as ever.

But does it hold up? The short answer: absolutely. The longer answer involves appreciating just how much Trey Parker and Matt Stone got right about the absurdity of American interventionism, Hollywood self-righteousness, and the overall ridiculousness of blockbuster action movies. And now, with a glorious 4K transfer, all the puppet gore, destruction, and, yes, graphic puppet sex, looks sharper than ever. So let’s dive into the insanity of Team America: World Police, break down its still-hilarious satire, and explore how the 4K UHD release brings new life to this raunchy, unapologetic classic.

Saving the World, One Puppet at a Time

Team America: World Police is both a send-up of America’s gung-ho approach to global politics and a gleeful parody of the over-the-top action films that dominated the early 2000s. The plot revolves around Team America, an elite (puppet) paramilitary group dedicated to saving the world from terrorism. Armed with their “freedom missiles” and high-octane action tropes, the team blunders their way through high-stakes missions, often causing more destruction than the terrorists they’re supposedly stopping.

When the villainous North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il (played by a hilariously villainous puppet) hatches a plan to destroy the world, Team America recruits Broadway actor Gary Johnston to infiltrate the terrorists and save the day. Yes, you read that right—a Broadway actor. Because why wouldn’t a stage actor be the perfect choice to go undercover and save the world?

What follows is a series of escalating, jaw-dropping set pieces that blend action, absurdity, and Parker and Stone’s signature brand of toilet humor. We get everything from puppet decapitations to musical numbers, culminating in an epic showdown between Team America and Kim Jong-il, who is revealed to be… well, let’s just say the twist is as ridiculous as you’d expect from the creators of South Park.

But beneath the explosions, vomit gags, and puppet sex scenes (yes, it’s still as graphic as you remember), Team America manages to satirize American exceptionalism and the self-congratulatory culture of Hollywood elites, all while parodying the very genre of films it’s mocking. It’s a movie that takes aim at everyone and everything—nothing is sacred, and the results are as chaotic as they are hilarious.

Puppets with More Personality than Most Action Heroes

While Team America is technically an ensemble, the true star of the film is Gary Johnston, the Broadway actor turned world-saving hero. But each member of Team America, and the various celebrities and villains they encounter along the way, brings their own brand of absurdity to the table.

Gary Johnston (Voiced by Trey Parker)
Gary is the film’s protagonist, a Broadway star famous for his role in the musical Lease. He’s reluctant to join Team America, but after a terrorist attack destroys the theater where he performs, Gary finds himself on a journey to save the world. Gary’s arc plays with the classic reluctant-hero trope, but in the most ridiculous way possible. He’s an actor, not a soldier, and the film never lets you forget that as he awkwardly stumbles through high-stakes situations. His transformation from self-doubting actor to world-saving puppet warrior is as hilarious as it is utterly ludicrous.

Lisa, Joe, Chris, Sarah, and Spottswoode (Voiced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone)
The rest of Team America is made up of your stereotypical action movie archetypes: Lisa is the team’s token female expert in psychology, Joe is the hotshot, Chris is the brooding tough guy, and Sarah is the empath who can “sense” terrorists. Then there’s Spottswoode, the team’s leader, who embodies every over-the-top action movie commander you’ve ever seen—complete with constant cigar-chomping and unnecessary shouting. Each character is a walking (or rather, puppeteering) cliché, which is exactly the point. They’re here to blow stuff up and spout ridiculous one-liners, and they do it with style.

Kim Jong-il (Voiced by Trey Parker)
The film’s villain, Kim Jong-il, is a hilariously exaggerated caricature of the real-life dictator. Parker and Stone play up every aspect of the man’s infamy, from his love of nuclear weapons to his penchant for elaborate, evil plans. But what really sets this version of Kim Jong-il apart is the character’s musical number, “I’m So Ronery,” which might just be the film’s most infamous moment. It’s crude, it’s inappropriate, and it’s quintessential Parker and Stone.

The Film Actors Guild (Voiced by Parker and Stone)
And, of course, we can’t forget the cavalcade of Hollywood stars who show up as Team America’s “foes.” Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and the rest of the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G. for short) represent the pompous self-importance of Hollywood elites. The film absolutely roasts these celebrities, portraying them as clueless do-gooders who think they know what’s best for the world. Their ultimate fate at the hands of Team America is as brutal as it is darkly hilarious.

Satire at its Most Explosive and Outrageous

Team America is a masterclass in satire, skewering American exceptionalism, the War on Terror, and Hollywood’s self-righteousness in equal measure. The film’s main target is the idea of America as the world’s self-appointed police force—a country that sees itself as the savior of freedom, no matter the collateral damage. Team America itself embodies this mindset, charging into various countries with little regard for the destruction they cause, convinced that their brand of “freedom” is the only answer to global problems.

The film also takes aim at Hollywood and its celebrities, mocking their tendency to speak out on political issues without really understanding the complexities involved. The Film Actors Guild (F.A.G.) is portrayed as a group of clueless, self-righteous actors who think they’re saving the world by lending their celebrity status to political causes. It’s a scathing indictment of Hollywood’s tendency to oversimplify serious issues and present themselves as moral authorities.

At the same time, Team America doesn’t shy away from mocking action movies themselves. The film gleefully embraces the clichés of the genre—over-the-top explosions, ridiculous one-liners, and absurd plot twists—while also poking fun at the idea that these films are somehow representative of real-world heroism. The fact that all of this is done with puppets only heightens the absurdity, making Team America a sharp critique of the very media it’s parodying.

The 4K UHD Release: Puppets Have Never Looked This Good

Now let’s get to the real reason you’re here: the 4K UHD release. Paramount has done an excellent job bringing Team America: World Police into the ultra-high-definition era, and this release is everything fans could have hoped for.

Visuals
The 4K transfer is stunning, bringing a new level of detail to the film’s already impressive puppet work. The marionette characters look sharper than ever, with every string, fabric texture, and facial expression rendered in glorious detail. The set pieces—miniature cities, exploding landmarks, and over-the-top action sequences—pop with color and clarity, making the absurdity of the destruction even more satisfying. The film’s many visual gags, like the iconic puppet sex scene and the various puppet gore moments, are crisper and more grotesquely funny in 4K.

The upgrade also does wonders for the film’s color palette. The vibrant reds, whites, and blues of Team America’s costumes and vehicles stand out against the bleak, often destroyed backdrops of the countries they visit. Explosions, of which there are many, now pack even more visual punch, making the film’s action sequences feel even more over-the-top.

Audio
The Dolby Atmos sound mix is another highlight of this release, giving the film’s bombastic soundtrack and sound effects new depth. The film’s score, which parodies the heroic, orchestral music of action blockbusters, sounds bigger and more dynamic than ever. Every explosion, gunshot, and one-liner hits with extra impact, immersing you in the absurd world of Team America.

And of course, the film’s musical numbers—whether it’s “America, F*** Yeah!” or Kim Jong-il’s “I’m So Ronery”—sound fantastic. The clarity of the audio mix enhances the humor of these songs, making every lyric and sound effect pop in the most hilarious way possible.

Special Features: An Inside Look at Puppet Mayhem

Paramount’s 4K UHD release comes packed with special features that give fans a deeper look into the making of Team America and the absurdity behind the scenes.

Featurettes
Several featurettes delve into the behind-the-scenes chaos of working with marionettes. “Building the World” gives fans a glimpse into the painstaking work that went into creating the film’s detailed sets and puppets, while “Marionette Mastery” focuses on the challenges of bringing these characters to life. The featurettes offer a fascinating look at just how much effort went into making the film look as ridiculous as possible—because, as Trey Parker and Matt Stone reveal, making puppets do action scenes is no easy task.

Audio Commentary
The audio commentary with Parker and Stone is an absolute must-listen for fans of the film. The duo is candid, hilarious, and often self-deprecating as they talk about the challenges they faced while making Team America. From technical difficulties with the puppets to the absurdity of some of the film’s more controversial scenes, Parker and Stone provide plenty of insight into what it was like to create a film that’s both a love letter to action movies and a brutal satire of them.

Deleted Scenes
There are also a handful of deleted scenes and extended sequences, most of which offer more of the crude humor and over-the-top action that fans love. While they don’t dramatically alter the film’s narrative, they provide some extra laughs and more insight into the creative process behind Team America.

Team America in 4K is Exactly What the World Needed

Nearly 20 years after its original release, Team America: World Police is still as offensive, hilarious, and razor-sharp as ever. Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s no-holds-barred satire of American politics, action movies, and celebrity culture feels just as relevant today as it did in 2004—if not more so. And now, thanks to Paramount’s outstanding 4K UHD release, this profane puppet masterpiece has never looked or sounded better.

Whether you’re revisiting the film or experiencing it for the first time, Team America in 4K is an absolute must-watch. The upgraded visuals and audio make every puppet punch, explosion, and offensive joke hit harder, while the wealth of special features offers a deeper appreciation for the madness that went into making this cult classic. So grab some popcorn, turn up the volume, and get ready to laugh, cringe, and be utterly amazed by the sheer audacity of Team America: World Police—because, let’s face it, the world could always use a little more chaos.

Team America: World Police is now available on 4K UHD from Paramount

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