Here are two pieces of advice regarding the new animated comedy Sausage Party.
Firstly, leave the kids at home. Because even though it is an animated comedy, it is one that bears the names Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who have previously collaborated on the creation of Pineapple Express, Superbad and This Is The End — they're a couple of chaps who enjoy taking the F-word out for a spin in their screenplays.
Secondly, maybe enjoy a bite to eat before the movie. Because after seeing what the walking, talking foodstuffs of Sausage Party get up to, you may not have much of an appetite.
Now that we have that public service announcement out of the way, it's my pleasure to report that Sausage Party is a tasty treat, albeit one with an extremely salty and spicy sense of humour.
What appears at first glance to be yet another wacky cartoon romp featuring objects that don't appear to have much of an inner life, if any at all (think anything from Toy Story to the upcoming Secret Life Of Pets), is actually a pretty clever look at the belief systems that divide and unite us.
One that is brimming with rude, raunchy gags involving sex, drugs and stereotypes about race, religion and ideology.
Regarding the last part: Sausage Party is not terribly subtle when it comes to such depictions. But the stereotyping is so full-on and so across the board — and eventually helps illustrate the story's main point — that I feel it earns a pass.
Plus, without it we probably wouldn't have Edward Norton doing a dead-on and decidedly hilarious Woody Allen impression as neurotic nosh Sammy Bagel, Jr. And we'd be all the poorer as a result.
Norton is just one member of all-star cast voicing the various groceries lining the shelves of the local supermarket, all of whom are eager to be selected by the Gods — that's the shoppers — and transported to the paradise of the Great Beyond.
For hot dog Frank (voiced by Rogen) and bun Brenda (Ghostbusters' Kristen Wiig), being plucked from the shelf at the same time holds even more significance — they'll finally join together and become one, ending a prolonged period of sexual frustration.
But when a jar of honey mustard is returned to the supermarket, he brings terrible news - the Gods are actually horrible monsters who skin potatoes, slice tomatoes and boil hot dogs to feed their voracious hunger.
It's an eye-opener for true believer Frank, who then embarks on a perilous mission to spread the word to his fellow food items and save his beloved Brenda from being eaten alive.
Like many a satisfying meal, Sausage Party sneakily slips in its healthier ingredients — in this case, a thoughtful message about tolerance in a variety of forms — by mixing them in with the stuff that's a bit more fun.
And whether it's gags that run the gamut from dad-joke dopey to buck's-night blue or performances that go completely for broke, this movie is deliciously dirty enough to have you come back for seconds.
