Cannibal! The Musical

Let's get the inevitable out of the way: the movie looks absolutely horrible. There's a reason most of Trey Parker's work has been in animation. Then again, it's Troma, so we can be a little forgiving. It's not so much the budget as general incompetence in the film-making that's a bit annoying here, but it's still a Trey Parker cannibal Western musical comedy from Troma based loosely on the true story of Alfred Packer.

Yes, it's as silly and ludicrous as it sounds, and although it's not quite up there with the best Troma has to offer ("Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead", "The Toxic Avenger", "Tromeo and Juliet", and a less well-liked favorite of mine, "Troma's War"), it's still absolutely demented and crazy throughout, the songs are still good, and the movie has a lot of fun with Western conventions.

This is really Trey Parker's movie through and through, it's his excellent performance as Packer which carries the movie, and it's his songs that immediately made me forget about all the jokes which fell flat in the preceding scene. This movie is far from perfect, and I think I laughed a bit harder at "Orgazmo", but this is still one of Troma's more worthwhile movies, and interesting as an example of the work of a very young pre-"South Park" Trey Parker.

7/10

"Alferd Packer: The Musical" is an early showcase for Trey Parker's various talents: acting, writing, directing, composing and singing. The man is virtually doing it all by himself and with low to no budget. As a movie made by a film student "Alferd Packer: The Musical" (or "Cannibal: The Musical" as the movie is commonly known) is breathtaking and it's almost scary that if it hadn't been for the Christmas Card incident nobody would have recognized Parker and his movie.

From today's point of view, however, "Cannibal: The Musical" isn't among the funniest things Parker and Stone (who's in the movie, too, but wasn't involved as much as in later projects) have ever done. Much like "Orgazmo" and "BASEketball" the two comedy greats can't really convince in real life movies. The jokes are kinda slow and strewn in between and the whole thing just isn't as funny as "South Park" or "Team America".

Still, one must not forget when this movie was made and how. For a student movie this is a great, no, gigantic achievement. The songs are every bit as hilarious as latter day material by Parker and - I'll say it again - they showcase some serious talent for writing melodies. So, yes, "Cannibal: The Musical", this strange mixture of Comedy, Musical, Western and Horror (just a wee bit) can be recommended to every fan of Parker and Stone.

While my statement could be provided because it is a comedy about a cannibal, I think the film is as strange as it is because it's a comedy/musical about a cannibal. I bet that if the South Park movie didn't have songs it wouldn't make much of a difference of it's greatness (despite them being classics), but in Cannibal, the songs make this film even funnier and turn it from being a lame film about a cannibal into a surprisingly funny if really dumb comedy.

Anyway, Trey Parker's first feature film is presented here and while Matt Stone isn't writing he is a co-producer along with Parker. The film focuses on the only cannibal convicted in America named Alfred Packer. It could've become an equally boring and gruesome film about the scarcely known guy, but it is actually lame for the right reasons by having songs at exactly the wrong time (where else are you going to see frontiersmen sing about dead animals and then argue about being in the wrong key). Not the greatest musical or comedy for that matter, however it is a keen, if ludicrous, freshman effort by the guys who would later go on to make a masterpiece with the South Park show and movie.

This film is great. Providing you like sick humour! Its funny, silly, stupid and more. The songs are excellently written and the acting is quite good. I loved this film and, providing you dont mind a fair amount of blood, anyone else should too.

Cannibal! The Musical is now a small cult classic thanks to DVD. It deserves more because this is simply a great movie, with songs that will leave you laughing for days and some great pop-culture references. Oh yeah, and Japanese Indians. And Confederate solider Cyclopses.

I actually read about the real Alfred Packer on the internet and believe it or not, the movie stays true to what happened. Scary, huh?

Historical background aside, the one-liners and musical numbers (`Let's Build a Snowman' is unbelievably funny) are a good reason to get this movie. If you have a DVD player, get the DVD and listen to the cast/crew's drunk commentary. It's not very informative but it sure is fun. Grade: A.

Rated R for graphic comic violence/gore and strong language. Suggested for ages 14 and up.