[Review] Sausage Party: An R-Rated Animated Film Full of Philosophical Thought
As the highest-grossing R-rated animated film in American history, Sausage Party's biggest selling point is, of course, its 18+ elements. From start to finish, the film's dialogue and visuals are filled with sexual innuendo (the final scene is even a full-on sex sequence, lol), vulgar language, and very realistic violence. Although this film is animated, it is extremely direct and unembellished in these three aspects. Moreover, some of the characters' designs and accents clearly stereotype different races, including their portrayal of Middle Easterners, Jewish people, and "Hawking," which seems a bit politically incorrect. If viewers enjoy such language, plot points, and visuals, they will undoubtedly find it incredibly entertaining; otherwise, they might quickly grow bored and find it unoriginal.
Even if audiences don't particularly enjoy the above elements, they might still appreciate the film's animation technology. Most of the story takes place in a supermarket, and the production team has rendered this setting and every corner of it very meticulously and aesthetically, especially when the tiny food items traverse this large supermarket. The differences between various sections also show the production team's thoughtfulness. While most food characters have faces and expressions, some food items are highly realistic, appearing incredibly lifelike!
Sausage Party has often been referred to as an adult version of Toy Story. Twenty years ago, Pixar showed creativity by asking in Toy Story: "What if toys were alive...?" In comparison, this time Sausage Party, in addition to asking "What if food were alive...?", also incorporates many philosophical questions for the audience to ponder. Film producers and screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have previously included their views and reflections on religious issues in films they directed, wrote, and produced, such as This is the End and the TV series Preacher, and this time is no exception.
In the film, all food items eagerly anticipate being chosen by "the Gods" to be taken to "The Great Beyond" and attain eternal life. However, after being taken home, they discover that the "Gods" they revere will actually peel, dismember, and eat them. The fortunate food items who escape immediately go to great lengths to return to the supermarket to warn their companions. However, others prefer to believe a beautified, comforting story rather than the terrifying reality told by their companions. These plot points may seem like imaginative cinematic moments, but how different are many of our reactions to the afterlife, the image of God, and these questions, from theirs? As a friend who watched this film with me said: humans are sometimes selectively blind.
What left the deepest impression on me was the conversation between Frank and Barry about how to save everyone. When Frank discovers the true nature of "the Gods," he goes around warning other food items, accusing them of escaping reality and being weak, but no one is willing to accept this truth. Later, Barry reminds Frank that he shouldn't warn others by insulting their beliefs or demeaning them; instead, he should inspire others and present a more hopeful, better way out. In fact, such things are closely related to our lives: we often firmly believe that our own beliefs are correct and strongly want to influence others' values. However, if we use the wrong approach, it will only backfire, leading to more conflict and misunderstanding. Many racial and religious conflicts throughout human history have arisen for this very reason. So, even if this film is a bit politically incorrect, it offers much food for thought in this regard.
Similarly, these reflections can also be applied to present-day Hong Kong. We see the arrogance of those in power, the different values in society, and some people who are indifferent to absurdities. How should we remind them and change the status quo?