by Joseph Carlson
What if food could talk, walk, and believe in the afterlife? That's just some of the things that the new animated film starring Kristen Wiig, Seth Rogen, and Michael Cera asks of the audience. A completely 'R' rated comedy with tons of riffs on God and the afterlife and everything in between.
The food at Shopwell's believes in The Great Beyond, a happy place where the Gods(human shoppers) take food when they have been chosen, but when a honey mustard comes back as a returned item Frank(a hot dog voiced by Seth Rogen) starts to believe that everything is not right and begins to question what happens to him and his fellow food.
Yes, the movie is crude, but it's also really great. Every aisle is like a different country with the liquor isle being a big party place and the ethnic foods like falafel and kosher food being separated by hummus.
As Frank travels to different isle and discovers more and more interesting food he also runs into the truth about what happens out there, but the thing is no one really wants to listen. It's all very scary to learn that the thing you've known your whole life might not turn out to be true. The Gods are eating people, The Great Beyond is a lie.
Frank turns out to be kind of a dick and Michael Cera's hot dog, Barry points out. You can't just tell people something forcefully and be smug about it. Change is hard you have to ease into it. This is probably where the movie shines. Although the humor is great and we can all agree that food cursing at each other is funny, the real heart of the movie, learning about acceptance and community is really well done.
And there's also a food orgy. No, really. There is.
So if you want to see something totally crazy, share a few laughs, and watch a film with a great not-so-hidden message give Sausage Party a shot.
Sausage Party is now in theaters is North America.