When the trailer dropped for The Happytime Murders, it was clear that the film was self-aware; starting with a relatively innocent opening of a cityscape set to pleasant music, the trailer poses the question, what do puppets do when kids aren’t around? The answer; foul language, drugs, and soliciting Melissa McCarthy. The tagline ‘No Sesame. All Street’ is definitely fitting.
To celebrate the film’s release on 27th August, we’re taking a look at other times when puppets were most certainly not for kids.
Avenue Q
Opening Off-Broadway in 2003 (making it the 24th longest running stage musical ever), Avenue Q is certainly a unique experience; set in a fictional ‘outer-outer borough’ of New York City, the lives of the puppet and human characters intertwine in a tale the millennial struggle of trying to find your place in the world. The show is certainly raunchy, with puppet sex scenes and a song titled “You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want When You’re Makin’ Love” and the fact that Gary Colman is the landlord is definitely a joke only adults will get.
South Park
Arguably the quintessential adult animation, South Park’s was incredibly influential to later TV shows and films, as the combination of the simple and childlike style with offensive humour has been imitated countless times. Following the lives of Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny the show has never been afraid of crude humour or causing as much controversy as possible, having angered Osama Bin Laden and The Church of Scientology. Indeed, within the world of the show the only puppet character Mr Hat – despite being a teaching aid for third graders – is not for children either, with his KKK membership and encouraging Mr Garrison to kill Kathie Lee Gifford.
Team America: World Police
With seven years of controversy caused by their hit series South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone found a way to cause even more controversy, this time with puppets. Opting for a degree of political satire, Team America: World Police looks at the criticism of US foreign policy trying to police the world, as a Broadway actor is recruited into an elite counter-terrorism organisation. Though in typical Parker and Stone style, unique pop-culture gags (Matt Damon) and grotesque and ridiculous sex scenes mean this film hit every beat of adult entertainment you could want.
Meet the Feebles
Peter Jackson is a filmmaker who many would associate with long fantasy epics, but before directing Elves and Hobbits, Jackson was a master of bad taste and none more so than this 1989 black-comedy musical. The story follows an assortment of animal character who experience the sleezier side of show business when performing in a variety show; this includes the lead star Heidi (a hippo) having a nervous breakdown, Harry (a hare) dying of a mysterious disease and Lucile (a poodle) being drugged to take part in one of Trevor’s (a rat) porn films. At the 2004 Academy Awards, Jackson quipped that the Meet the Feebles was ‘wisely overlooked by the Academy’. We won’t disagree with him.
Puppet Master
Most media that depicts puppets (even many of the subversive interpretations on the list) tend to make them look colourful, appealing and cute. With Puppet Master, it’s hard to say which Puppet is the most nightmare-inducing, though Blade with his gaunt ghostlike face and hook hand might win that title. When their former colleague dies, a group of scientists visit the hotel he was staying in, only to be stalked and murdered in increasingly grisly ways by the sentient puppets of a deceased Holocaust victim. Like most 80s slasher killers, the puppets dispatch of their victims in increasingly clever ways that will satisfy any horror fan.
“Angel” Smile Time TV Episode
Although it may have been beloved by a generation of young people, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was hardly children’s programming. Its spin-off Angel was even less so and these adult themes are present in this season 5 episode. When investigating a children’s TV show that is sucking the brain power out of its viewers, Angel (David Boreanaz) is transformed into a foot-tall puppet. The episode has a lot of tongue-in-cheek humour that only adults would understand, having a lot of fun combining the fantasy violence with the puppetry. Standout scenes include puppet Angel’s fight with long-time rival Spike (‘You’re a wee little puppet-man’) and Angel’s Werewolf love interest Nina ripping the stuffing out of him.
The Happytime Murders will be released in UK cinemas on 27th August.
