South Park: Elementary School Musical
By fred | November 13, 2008
(S12E13) Well, with a title like that it’s pretty obvious what this episode would be about, making fun of High School Musical. Now I never seen any of those movies, though I can tell from the few clips I’ve seen of it that I can’t stand it, and I’m sure there were things I didn’t catch because of that, but I’m perfectly fine with it. Even more so, because this episode worked even if you never watched HSM.
Sure, it was a parody of the movies and making fun of that new trend, and their bogus message that everyone is special and can succeed without ever really overcoming any real obstacle, and be who they are exactly like everyone else, but the episode was also really funny and you didn’t need to know anything about HSM to enjoy it. Plus, long before those movies, the boys of South Park had burst into songs and became pop stars, so we all know Parker & Stone have no problem coming up with great, catchy tunes.
As I said, I never watched the High School Musical movies but I know enough to know I don’t like them. And maybe that’s why I sometimes got a little annoyed during this episode, by all the songs, especially by the end. But they actually managed to do a good job at not going there too much. For a long time to boys fought it and refused to sing, and when Stan finally caved in, only to end up trying to find something to sing, even “happy birthday”, it was actually pretty funny.
And of course, in the end when they really went full HSM-mode I got worried, and I really couldn’t wait for this singing to be over, but you gotta loved such powerful lyrics :
“
Do what you wanna do. As long as what you wanna do is what everybody wants you to.
Do what you wanna do. Just make sure what you do is what’s cool and popular with everyone.
”
Adding to that Cartman reminding everyone that he hates the Jews, and Kyle taking his hat off to reveal an Afro, a private joke I assume, as everyone knows originally Stan was based on Trey while Kyle was based on Matt, and the guy used to have such an awful lot of hair indeed.
But what made this episode really work, is that it was just hilarious. When the boys watched the movie for first time, their reaction to it was both priceless, and I think reflected exactly what Parker & Stone were thinking of it all, a sentiment a share : “This, is cool? This? is cool? We are really getting old, you guys.”
Then of course Cartman made this even better, by simply giving up. “Well, I’m out guys. If this is what’s cool now I think I’m done. I no longer have any connection to this world. I’m gonna go home and kill myself.” I think that was the line that made me laugh the most of the entire episode, one of the best lines ever. Even better is that Cartman actually did not just say the words, but try to go through with it. If he didn’t actually die, it’s because of technical reasons.
Kyle: What happened? I thought you were gonna kill yourself.
Cartman: I tried. Went to sleep in my mom’s car in the garage with the engine turned on.
Stan: But you didn’t die ?
Cartman: Freaking hybrids man. They just don’t do the trick anymore.
Just awesome. And of course we had some classic South Park moment that had nothing to do with singing of HSM at all, like Cartman laughing at Kenny for being poor — it’s been so long I thought he forgot about it, so I really liked that one myself. And to keep up with the continuity of things, when the boys asked what High School Musical was, because they were the only ones not to know about this, just how awesome was Craig’s comment :
Jimmy: Where the hell have you guys been ?
Craig: Peru.
Adding to that Mr. Queermo and his constant slapping, I know I should probably feel bad about it, but I really couldn’t stop laughing whenever he was slapping someone. Him slapping his wife and kids was just hilarious, and even he couldn’t control himself and started to slap everyone, the people from Child Protective Services, the neighbor, everyone, I just couldn’t stop laughing.
Just like everytime Cartman was making fun of Scott Malkinson right to his face, “I’m Scott Malkinson. I’ve got a lisp and I’ve got diabetes.” Classic Cartman.
What did you think of this episode ? Do you have that “Do What You Wanna Do” song stuck in your head now ? Looking at those High School Movies, are you feeling old, too ?
Posted in Reviews
Shows: South Park
This was the funniest episode ever!