Seth Rogen’s brainchild, “Sausage Party” was released in theaters on Aug. 12. Due to crude sexual content, pervasive language and drug use, the animated comedy received an R rating.

During its first weekend in the box office, it raked in an estimated $34,263,534. A star-studded cast including Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Selma Hayak and Kirsten Wiig voice the characters in this movie.

This animated film documents the adventures of a sausage named Frank (voiced by Seth Rogen) and his edible friends in the aisles of Shopwell’s Grocery Store in a light that is geared toward an adult audience. Confined to their packages for the majority of their lives, these personified foodstuffs’ greatest wish is to be chosen, or purchased, and taken to the “Great Beyond.”

It is widely accepted throughout the grocery store that the Great Beyond is a produce paradise. In other words, the food items are completely unaware of their true fate—being eaten.  After suspicion about the legitimacy of the Great Beyond arises, Frank becomes determined to discover the truth. He and his perishable peers escape their packages and overcome a plethora of obstacles in order to learn their destiny.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It indubitably earned its R rating in the vulgar language and sexual innuendo departments. Instances of crude language occur constantly throughout the film. However, if the viewer can look past the tawdry and juvenile humor, the movie truly has a clever underlying theme.

Demystification of the Great Beyond serves as a subtle allegory for human belief in the afterlife. Subplots within the film are extremely well thought-out and relevant to today’s society. Colorful and vivid animation also makes the movie an aesthetically pleasing watch.

Since the movie received an R rating, persons under 17 may not view it in theaters without adult supervision or permission. This is most definitely not a kids’ movie. Several scenes would be more than uncomfortable to watch with your parents too.

In addition to age restrictions, I would recommend that those who are easily offended by crude humor or vulgar language not attend, as there are frequent instances of both throughout the film. Although the risqué nature of the movie may earn it a bad rap, I give it a 7/10 overall for the clever humor.

18lgregory@usd489.com