‘South Park’ Takes on Big Pharma, Bigger Influencers

Influencers take it on the chin in the new “South Park” release “South Park (Not Suitable for Children.”

The 45-minute special, available Oct. 29 on Blu-ray and DVD, takes a withering look at our OnlyFans obsession. That’s hardly the only target in Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s sights.

• Clueless parents
• Squabbling kids
• Incompetent school administrators
• Promotion-happy YouTube stars

“Drink Cred or you’re a piece of s***,” one says.

The show’s creators wrote and directed a special that pushes the boundaries of the long-running show. And that’s saying something. Take the special’s title seriously.

It all starts when the school’s art teacher is outed as an Only Fans diva. Teaching may not pay well, but baring it all for strangers more than makes up for it. That convinces Randy to try his hand at OnlyFans infamy.

Who wouldn’t want a taste of that sweet, sweet OnlyFans cash? Except he’s not as instantly famous as he expected. We’re assured the site is for adults only, sparking instant laughter.

Bullseye.

The special doubles as a riff on hip hydration drinks. “I got Cred, b*tches,” Cartman raps of the drink every kid in “South Park” craves. Peer pressures, social media status and pre-teen tropes collide in a comic frenzy.

The language, of course, is hard R-rated. We even get animated nudity, and lots of it. It’s all played for laughs, but the show has some serious concerns about pornography, teen culture and the people pulling the strings behind the scenes.

There’s a reason your favorite influencer is peddling their own version of Cred. Why? Even the minds at “South Park” aren’t quite sure, but they’re willing to take some educated guesses. Big Pharma, the NRA and China all come under the microscope.

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The funniest subplot finds Randy and Sharon Marsh competing for OnlyFans followers. His attempts at gaining online traction prove hilarious, and he’s incensed when Sharon thinks she can out-perform him on the platform.

The segues feature spiffed-up animation, but the rest is pure “South Park” cut and paste visuals. That’s all the show has ever needed.

Other things never changed, either. Cartman remains a horrible human being. Animated violence goes down much more easily than the real thing.

And “South Park” has its pulse on western culture.

South Park’s latest special ‘NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN’ takes aim at Logan Paul and his PRIME energy drinkpic.twitter.com/pOYzbpSRaP

— Lights, Camera, Barstool (@LightsCameraPod) December 20, 2023

 

The special may tackle hot-button issues, but the themes are surprisingly timeless. There’s always a pre-teen trend that sparks a social frenzy and potentially ostracizes those who can’t join the craze. Parents are never quite sure what their kids are up to next, and they’re often eager to blame everyone but themselves over parenting fails.

“Not Suitable for Children” isn’t a feature-length presentation, but at 45 minutes it’s the perfect span to say what needs to be said.

“The Simpsons” is a shell of its old self. “Family Guy” soldiers on, but it never reached the satirical heights of either “South Park” or “The Simpsons.”

Stone and Parker may be older and wiser, but they haven’t forgotten what makes their signature show tick.

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