True to form, the "South Park" duo of Trey and Matt set out to mock and offend as many groups of people as possible. This time, they enlist an army of marionettes to do their dirty work. Actually, the facial expressions are much better than I'd expected and the filmmakers take full advantage, getting laughs from simple speechless reaction shots.

Further, some of the sets show a great deal of detail and care. The opening Paris set with multiple marionettes and a camera "steady-cam'ing" among them works superbly to both set up the film's own punch lines in the visual, while mocking film-lore and American perceptions of this famous city.

But the real punch of the film is in its brazen unabashed mockery of the most grave and concretely serious issues of the day -- most notably the US involvement in Iraq. While most of the film is spent making fun an American armed effort that blows up half of the country to kill one terrorist, liberals as well as actors aren't immune to heavy-handed and obscene ribbing. It's perhaps this odd "fairness" that robs the film of some otherwise potential might.

Other highlights include the irreverent musical numbers and a hilariously crafted North Korean president puppet.

For those who like Matt and Trey's work, this film is almost always mildly amusing, eliciting a good chuckle here and there, and on a handful of occasions -- full out bend-over, tears in the eyes, howling. For those who are offended easily -- goodness, don't go. Personally, I found myself howling more often at "South Park: The Movie."

But, forget about American reviewers, I'd like to know what the rest of the world thinks of this film.