(1997) from Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy; Greg Wroblewski) and Tuna

"I don't wanna sound like a queer or nothin', but I think Depeche Mode is a really sweet band"

"I don't wanna sound like a queer or nothin', but I think unicorns kick ass"

Tuna and I kind of split on this film, and in an unexpected way. I may be the #1 fan of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, certainly the #1 fan in my age bracket, but I found this film obvious and disappointing compared to the laugh levels and originality of their other efforts. Tuna, on the other hand, is not a fanatical Parker/Stone buff, but found that this film tickled his funny bone. Go figure.

The critics were also split on the film. Roger Ebert played the "sophomoric" card and gave it half of a star, while James Berardinelli slapped a 3/4 on it, and called it "unpolished but enjoyable."

Scoop's comments in white:

The writer/director of Orgazmo, Trey Parker, is the reigning young comedy god because of the South Park TV show and movie. From the very beginning of his movie career, he's always preferred to do confrontational and politically incorrect comedy on topics as controversial as possible. Years ago, while still a student, he created a film project called "Cannibal the Musical", which has attained full-fledged cult status, and is one of my all-time low budget favorites. It's a parody of Oklahoma, more or less, a sweet, sappy, stupid musical in calico and gingham, except with cannibalism and capital punishment. 'Nuff said.

Looking to continue pushing the outside of the envelope, Trey moved his personal bad taste meter from from cannibalism to porn and came up with another musical called Orgazmo. Well, he was hoping to make it a musical, but couldn't get it produced on that basis, so he ended up selling it to investors as a traditional lowbrow comedy. Orgazmo is more of a Trey project than a Trey/Matt effort. Matt Stone, who is Trey's friend, South Park co-creator, and usual co-writer, is reduced to extra status in this film, playing a minor role and lacking even a writing credit.

Trey plays a wholesome Mormon who is doing his missionary work in LA when the plot contrives him into a porn film role as a horny superhero, and leads him through a series of adventures in the sleazy underbelly of Los Angeles. Porn legend Ron Jeremy co-stars, other porn performers have roles, and many porn stars make cameo appearances at a party.

There are also side dish parodies of martial arts films and superhero films, although nothing really hits the mark. Orgazmo can be pretty funny in some spots, but Ebert is quite correct in that it is sophomoric, totally obvious, and pretty dumb. There is also quite a bit of material in this film which is too directly derivative of the films of other comedy writers like Steve Martin and Mel Brooks. The one thing that really impressed me in this film was Dian Bachar, the little guy who appears in all Trey's movies (Squeak Skolarik in Baseketball). He plays Orgazmo's sidekick, Choda Boy. This guy is a comic performer of great genius, as good at performing the material as Trey is at creating it.

Bottom line? Although I think my sense of humor is very similar to Parker's, I don't like Orgazmo very much. It was a great idea that needed more work. On the other hand, I don't hate it. How can you hate a movie with a naked mariachi band at a party for porn stars? The band sings (in Spanish):

"Mi verga es chiquita y muy fea... y todo el mundo lo sabe"

(My penis is tiny and very ugly, and everyone is aware of that)

In another scene, Trey is introduced to the legendary Japanese porn stars, The Assfuck Twins:

Oh... I, I can't say that.

Say what?

What they are called.

The Assfuck Twins?

I can't say that. Can we call them something else?

But they're the Assfuck Twins.

Well I know, but couldn't I call them the Naughty Twins or something?

No, you couldn't just call them the Naughty Twins. They're the Assfuck Twins. Why would you call them The Naughty Twins when they get fucked in the ass all the time?

Well, that's pretty naughty.

At one point, Trey convinces his girlfriend in Utah that he should stay in L.A. to act in a sequel to his porn film, Orgazmo. The conversation is confusing because she doesn't know he's in porn in the first place. She thinks he's in Death of a Salesman):

They want me to do a sequel.

A sequel, to "Death of a Salesman"? Doesn't he die at the end of the first?

Yes, but he has a twin brother, and he wants revenge.

Revenge? But, doesn't he kill himself?

No, no, that's what you were led to believe. He was killed by the C.I.A. ... for selling smack ... to Nazis ...

Wow! And I always thought Death of a Salesman was dull!

The original Orgazmo costume! (Above) The mighty Choda Dog (Below)

I found my level of comedy in this early Trey Parker film. Trey and Stan Sawicki play Mormon missionaries in Hollywood, a week away from returning to Salt Lake. We see them being treated rather shabbily at two houses, then they knock on the door of a little old lady:

"Hello, Ma'am. My goodness, you have such an attractive little garden here."

"Why thank you, young man. I just planted those flowers last week. My, how they grow."

"Yes ma'am. Were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

"Oh, the Mormons."

"That's right. I'm Elder Young, and this is Elder White."

"Well, you two boys can just fuck right off."

"Ma'am?"

"You heard me. Take that Book of Mormon, and shove it so far up your righteous asses that you choke, you soul soliciting pig fuckers."

Their next stop is the home studio of a porno king. Trey is enticed to appear in the leading role in the film Orgazmo. He will earn enough to marry his fiancée in the temple, and they will use a stunt cock so he doesn't have to totally shatter his morals. In the porn films, Orgazmo is a superhero character who does in the bad guys with an orgasm ray gun. I don't want to give away any more of the plot, as I give this an enthusiastic thumb up.