An early live-action film from the creators of South Park is too controversial to stream

The author Robert Scucci
| Updated 1 hour ago

I think it goes without saying that the “superhero sex comedy” or as I like to call it, “action porn” genre belongs to a niche audience, and for good reason. But you have to give it to young Trey Parker and Matt Stone for trying to make a mark in this oddly specific genre with 1997. Orgasmwhich did its limited theatrical runs just before that South Park became the intellectual property they are best known for. Marking Parker's second feature directorial effort, Orgasm production value is leaps and bounds before his first film, Cannibal! the musical, but Orgasm was always destined to become a cult classic that's difficult to track down via streaming due to its controversial subject matter and execution.

At least at that time Orgasm release, I've never seen a movie with an NC-17 rating that wasn't hidden behind a beaded curtain in a video store, accessible only to the most mainstream of moviegoers. Ironically, Parker and Stone were too clever with their self-censorship, making the film quite tame by today's standards. However, the MPAA upheld the rating because they used sexually suggestive props regardless Orgasm it has less nudity than in 2016 Deadpool if my calculations are correct.

The innocent Mormon became a porn star

Orgasm doesn't tell a complicated story, but its premise is unique enough in a way that there aren't many movies that start with an innocent missionary with intimidating martial arts skills being recruited by a sleazy movie. the king's needle portray a pornographic superhero that results in kidnapping, gang violence, blackmail and a real-life ray gun that subdues its subjects, stimulating them to the point of what I can only describe as this…extreme arousal and release.

Trey Parker's Joe Young is a blissfully naïve young man with his whole life ahead of him who doesn't want to get into trouble, agreeing to work for Maxxx Orbison (Michael Dean Jacobs) as a fictional crime-fighting gigolo named Orgazmo. but agrees to act in his film because he wants to give his bride Lisa (Robin Lynn Raab) her dream wedding. Taking the job despite his faith, Joe quickly signs a contract, but on the condition that a stuntman takes his place in the dark scenes, which ethically allows him to star in a movie that is so, so dirty.

Cons of success

Thinking that his portrayal of Orgazmo will be a one-time gig that will net him a life-changing sum of money, Joe is signed to a lifetime contract with Maxxx after the film becomes an inevitable success. Unlike his co-star who plays Orgazmo's sidekick Chod Boy, Ben Chapelski (Dian Bachar of BASEketball and Electric Apricot fame), Joe wants to leave the industry, but his hand is forced by Maxxx, who views the world through the lens of greed. Fortunately, Ben only works in porn because he likes the thrill, and reveals to Joe that he's an MIT graduate who actually created a real-life version of Orgazmo's weapon, the Orgazmorator.

Armed with his new weapon of mass incitement, Joe and Ben learn the depth of Maxxx Orbison's corruption when Lisa is kidnapped because Joe refuses to honor his contract. It's up to both Joe and Ben to take out Maxxx and save Lisa, while Dave the photographer (Matt Stone) remains blissfully unaware of his surroundings despite the obvious tension on set. Now running the mean streets of Los Angeles as the real Orgazmo and Choda Boy, they must take out Maxxx and his evil sidekick A-Cup (David Dunn) and save the city from certain doom.

Must have an R rating

Orgasm's The NC-17 rating seems a little harsh looking back on the film from today, but I can understand why the censors wanted to err on the side of caution with this film. Back then, Trey Parker and Matt Stone didn't have nearly as much traction or resources as they do today, and sometimes when you're trying to make it in the movie industry, you've got to get your pieces.

But I will say this: their self-censorship adds a whole layer of comedy Orgasm which elevates the humor to the point of absurdity. Whenever the mistress lifts her shirt for a scene on the Maxxx soundstage, the scene is never fully revealed, but rather the man's bare rear end takes over the frame, still risque, but much safer than complete frontal nudity. You can say what you want about the T-Rex lovemaking sequence, which I'll leave to your imagination if you've never had the pleasure of watching Orgasmbut still, more than anything else, you see provocative facial expressions.

At the time of this writing Orgasm not available for streamingbut recently I've seen it make its rounds on Tubi before being taken off the platform. You can watch for now Orgasm on request via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV+and Fandango at home.