Disaster!

At first, I had my reservations about this movie. I wasn't a big fan of Team America:World Police, and I had heard that this was along a similar vein. Fortunately, I decided to see it anyway, and I laughed harder than I have in a long time. Don't get me wrong, this movie is offensive to just-about every demographic imaginable, but it is in a tongue in cheek way, as opposed to a mean-spirited way. If you can't stand foul language, sex, graphic violence, nudity, and racial stereotypes acted-out by clay figures, then this movie is not for you. But, if you have a sense of humor, like Naked Gun-like physical comedy, and witty, biting dialog, then you must see this movie!

I just had the luck to see this film at the Hamburg Fantasy Film Fest and loved it, why? It is so far out and funny, in all shades, good humour, bad humour and very bad humour. A little like the Team America makers decided to save the budget by using wax puppets and use the saved cash for really bad substances (I know of course that this is not the case, but look at it and you should see what I mean ;-)) The plot follows the Armageddon script and has some very recognizable scenes almost exactly taken from, it well, momentarily to change drastically and create humour this way and it works! If you like your puppet comedies tough, go and see this one. If you mind bad language and/or explicit themes and scenes, maybe reconsider...

"Disaster! The Movie" is a weird mix of the profound and the profane. The profound: a good reflection of our own reflection (ref. Borat's humor). The very fact that the movie's stereotypes and clichés can be funny at times says something about our own values/views of the world. (Guilty...I laughed out-loud at times.) The profane: fart jokes, racism, sexism, homophobia, lackluster plot. Although the plot was soft, the writers have a good eye for those nonsensical sensibilities which seem to SELL and which have been so deadly to quality movies. Also; terrific animation,production values and talented voices. The "Director's Comments" and"Behind-the-Scenes" extras are interesting. If you like "South Park"and "Team America", then give it a try.

As a parody movie for disaster movies such as Armageddon and other similar movies it sort of works. Its not a brilliant movie, but I do give it 3/10 stars. If movies like Team America is your kind of movie, this might be worth a watch, but this isn't Team America. It just sort of looks like Team America, but cheaper and less well written. Its a bit more forced, cliche and it plays more on sex. It does have a good parody of Stephen Hawking.

The movie actually starts of well enough, but after about 40 minutes the movie gets repetitive and nods to Star Trek, Terminator and classic 70s Sci-fi doesn't really help in this case. Its an OK movie, but not good. There are too many fart jokes in the later half of the movie. Some of the humor seems forced and just how many claymation tits do one need to see? I could go on to say the movie has several overly stereotyped characters, including racist characters. Not for everyone.

It could have been a good movie. However there is simply too much prepubescent humor and a manuscript that ran out of ideas.

If you are the type who will giggle uncontrollably at the mere mention of poop or penis, no matter what the context, then you will love this movie. However, if you happen to be over 12 you will most likely be yawning and looking at your watch waiting for the film to be over. I am by no means prudish or sensitive to crude humor, I am a big fan of South Park. However, unlike South park, there is no intelligent satire or clever parodies in this movie. The jokes are so juvenile and predictable that it consistently falls flat on its face.

It's almost as if the makers were expecting the long worn off novelty of adult animation to carry this movie alone, without giving any particular thought to the script whatsoever. Oh look, they are parodying Armageddon, ha ha, oh look there's poop, ha ha, oh my god, that is so funny. This basically sums up the whole movie, minus the laughs. There is absolutely nothing funny about this movie. It is aptly named "Disaster!". It is not even worth 99 cents from the bargain bin. It would be a waste of 99 cents. Even if you got to see it for free it would be a waste of 83 minutes.

Bottom line: avoid this movie if you value your time or money.