First Take: Sausage Party- probably the most surreal experience I've had in 13 years of cinemagoing

SYPNOSIS: One sausage leads a group of supermarket products on a quest to discover the truth about their existence and what really happens when they become ‘chosen’ to leave the grocery store.

15-rated animation is one of the few delights of modern cinema that has gone unnoticed over the years, namely due to how difficult it is to actually make a film for that audience while making sure it delivers a great box office result. But with heavyweight talent like Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill being involved for the near 10-year stint in development, Sausage Party delivered exactly what I expected and more.

The plot is very well thought out, with some very deep messages about inclusion hidden within the ridiculousness of a film about food finding their place in the world.The pacing is pretty much bang on, and it’s written very well by Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Ariel Shaffir and Kyle Hunter. Even though it utilises a lot of the same comedic moments that made Bad Neighbours and This is the End so popular with cinemagoers, the film still feels unique, and it passed the 6 laugh test with ease, with what I can only describe as the best audience I’ve had so far this year responding really well too. The voice cast is just incredible, with Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Salma Hayek and Edward Norton lending their voices to to some excellently thought out and designed characters, and that handily brings me onto the quality of the animation. 

Sure, it’s not as slick as Pixar’s style, but the DreamWorks influences that co-director Conrad Vernon brings to the film makes it a solid effort- and it’s directed very well too. This is obviously a hard 15 certificate, as there are some scenes that literally redefine the phrase ‘food porn’- anyone who hates that sort of stuff should simply cover their eyes for the last 10 minutes of the film. That sequence simply needs to be seen to be believed, and this certainly ISN’T a film you can take children to see.

THE VERDICT

Even though it’s a film that lacks the prestige of a major studio animation, Sausage Party is one of a selected few films that left me with a huge grin on my face for the entire running time. With a genius plot and premise combined with a great script and cast, the animated slate just got more tasty, and I am already craving a sequel.

RATING- 5/5