The words National Lampoon's have been notoriously linked to laugh out loud comedies for decades. The creators behind the ever popular Animal House and the ground breaking internet company Icebox, bring to audiences everywhere the animated series dubbed Mr. Wong, which was first released onto DVD February 17, 2004. A quick glance at the cover alone tells the buyer that he is in for a new type of humor. Along with the red, white, and blue is the face of an 85 year old Chinese houseboy plastered on the cover. Somehow, Mr. Wong resembles an Uncle Sam like figure, of course he's an old Asian beardless man, and not the Uncle Sam we're  used to seeing. In fact, Mr. Wong is a character created to elicit  laughter by pushing some buttons.

Creators Pam Brady and Kyle McCulloch, who also serve as the main character's voices, are also writers for the widely popular and controversial South Park series. Mr. Wong embodies similar aspects of political incorrectness. In fact, nothing about the Mr. Wong DVD is politically correct. If anything, the writers have sought to break every politically correct rule there is. Even the synopsis on the back suggests that this DVD is bound to offend some people.

Mr. Wong is about an old Chinese houseboy who caters to the every whim of Miss Pam, a sometimes evil and downright cruel boss who gets her kicks by playing off of Mr. Wong. Their adventures provide the basis for the jokes. The DVD is packed with twisted scenarios that have Mr. Wong and Miss Pam traveling to Memphis, and dealing with a creepy neighbor and a rabid disease infected raccoon, just to name of few. Although Mr. Wong is created to be a wild comedy, it has got some people wondering whether or notit is to be construed as an attack on Asians. After all, the main character is drawn as an overly slanty-eyed houseboy, who sleeps on wooden planks, speaks with bad pronunciation, and is often subjected to being called “yellow” and other Asian stereotypes by his boss, Miss Pam.

However, it's not that the show pokes fun only at Asian immigrants, rather the entire DVD pokes fun at everyone. It's truly equal opportunity in that sense. Any race, group, sex, or being can be subjected to cruel jokes at any time. At the beginning of each episode, there is a disclaimer that warns of the material that the audiences will view. There are rude nicknames, swears, and racially inflammatory material. It can be argued that because Mr. Wong makes fun of everyone, it isn't really racist at all, because no one race is superior or exempt from racial humor and stereotyping.

It's not the fact that Mr. Wong's Chinese heritage makes the series humorous, but the situations that he gets into. When audience members are laughing, they're laughing not at the race of the main character, rather the predicaments that arise and what he does to resolve them. Obviously this isn't to say that racial slurs are acceptable, but one can enjoy Mr. Wong if time is taken to understand the constructs that the series was created under. It is a tongue and cheek comedy, and makes no qualms about being crass and crude. If you can understand that first, and see the series beyond its Asian main character, then maybe you can get a couple laughs out of it. Of course, viewer discretion is strongly advised. The DVD also includes outtakes and funny excerpts as bonus material.

For more information please visit:

www.nationallampoon.com

www.icebox.com