In an attempt to double-dip the fanatic South Park collector, the folks at Paramount Home Video have put together the 2-disc DVD set A Little Box of Butters.
Like 2008's The Cult of Cartman - Revelations, A Little Box of Butters is a collection of 13 episodes based around a specific character, this time the clueless little boy Butters Stotch (geddit?). Designed for the hardcore South Park fan, it demonstrates both the show's strengths and developing weaknesses.
Paramount Home Video Distributes A Little Box of Butters, Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone
On the surface, Butters appears to be South Park's whipping boy, the intellectually backwards kid who is constantly grounded by his overly-strict parents and the butt of nasty pranks by his nemesis Eric Cartman. However, Butters somehow manages to turn defeat into victory when he cluelessly foils Cartman's nastier plans, such as in the episodes 'Awesom-O' or 'Cartman Sucks.' And he occasionally gets to play the wise fool, dispensing his brand of muddled wisdom during the 'lesson' portion of the show.
While Parker and Stone still know how to generate some great laughs (an impressive feat over 13 seasons), this collection shows that the duo have an increasing problem channeling their outrage into comedy. A classic example is the episode 'Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset' which puts past-her-sell-by-date celebutante Paris Hilton in the cross-hairs. Granted, there's a lot to dislike in this shameless hotel heiress but South Park's satire would have been more effective if Parker and Stone had toned down the outrage. They go for the blatant joke, which doesn't always work. That said, the end sequence where Paris Hilton talks to a glowing frog is priceless.
A better example of Parker and Stone turning outrage into comedy gold is in their parody of homosexual re-education camps in the episode 'Cartman Sucks.' After Cartman's attempt to humiliate Butters goes awry, the little boy is sent to a special camp "to pray the gay away." The show's put-downs of such camps are bang-on, especially the fact that they either (a) mess children up so badly that they feel suicide is their only recourse, or (b) act as an unintentional dating service.
The irony of the entire episode is that Butters never figures out what's going on, especially when people tell him he's "confused" or "bi-curious" – perhaps he should ask his dad . . .
A Little Box of Butters DVD Extras
Think you know South Park? Try your hand at 'It's Butters! A Trivia Game' that tests your knowledge of the included episodes. There are some bits of memorabilia, including a copy of the story The Poop that Took a Pee, an Inspector Butters badge, a W.W.B.D. (What Would Butters Do?) rubber bracelet, a copy of The South Park Tribune, a Butters Bitch necklace and a copy of the $250 million cheque Paris Hilton gave to Butters' parents.
South Park's A Little Box of Butters Only for Fans, Completists
Okay, these episodes are funny, but more patient fans can easily hold off until these as-yet unreleased episodes appear in the inevitable Season 14 DVD set. The enclosed knick-knacks might appeal to the fan who absolutely must have everything South Park but not for anyone else.
But, for what it is, A Little Box of Butters gets a 3/5.
Dominic von Riedemann - Dominic is the Animated Film Feature Writer, and winner of 11 Suite 101 Editors' Choice Awards.
Join the Conversation