In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before Seth Rogen and company made the jump to animation. "Sausage Party" is a new level of ridiculousness from the team behind "This Is The End," "Pineapple Express" and more, which should really tell you something about this movie. As you might expect, the humor is incredibly vulgar and low-brow, but that doesn't mean that it can't still be funny.
Our story begins in the Shopwell's grocery store, where the food products sing a rousing musical number about how they can't wait to be picked up by the gods (human beings) and taken out of the glass doors and into the Great Beyond. As it's the day before the Fourth of July, it may just mean that a hotdog named Frank (voiced by Seth Rogen) can finally slide into Brenda the bun (Kristen Wiig). However, they then receive word that the Great Beyond is a lie and that their gods are actually vicious murderers that eat their dutiful worshipers. Frank sets out to find the truth about his gods and embarks on a journey revolving around questioning his faith, the possible pointlessness of life and his search for hope and truth. Yeah, "Sausage Party" has some pretty lofty themes at times, but they really just come across as tacked on. After all, no one is seeing this for a rousing discussion about faith and division. We're all here to see cartoon food make sex jokes and shout four letter words. It's okay, you can admit it.
"Sausage Party" is held afloat by innuendo, literal food porn, incredibly vulgar gags, and mocking every stereotype known to man. This movie features lesbian Mexican tacos, Irish potatoes, Jewish bagels, Native American Firewater Liquor (Bill Hader) and gay fruit. German mustard bottles are on a crusade to exterminate the juice. Oh, and the villain is a literal douche (Nick Kroll) who "juices up" by sucking the juice from his victims in a very rapey way. In case you haven't figured it out, this is not a movie for the easily offended. However, none of this humor ever feels mean spirited or spiteful, if only because the movie takes the time to make sure no country or race goes unscathed.
Hey, this humor even leads to some political commentary for all of you wannabe pundits out there. We're treated to a distinctly Arabic Lavash (David Krumholtz) bashing the Jewish bagels for settling on the West side of their aisle. Firewater and Mr. Grits (Craig Robinson) share a moment while recalling the atrocities committed against them by the crackers. What makes this work is that none of it is taken too seriously and it's even proposed that the food can all work out their differences.
"Sausage Party" knows exactly what it is and you should too. Don't walk into the theater expecting to be blown away by the animation, astounded by a brilliant plot, or wowed by razor sharp wit. Watch this movie with your brain turned down and be ready to laugh along at the expense of the characters and the real world they sometimes represent.