History YMMV / TeamAmericaWorldPolice

* CommonKnowledge: It's often believed that Sean Penn was upset by his portrayal in the film and wrote a scathing letter to Stone and Parker because of it. This had nothing to do with the film but was a criticism of previous statements they had made encouraging young people not to vote in the 2004 election, and he clarified in the letter that he had no problem with the film itself.

*** In fact, the only one of the film's targets who seems to have taken it personally is Creator/SeanPenn, who wrote Parker and Stone [[{{Irony}} a very angry letter]] (telling them just how angry he was) after the film's release.

* {{Applicability}}: Recently, many people think that had the movie was made and during released with 2022 War on Ukraine in mind (or any conflict with a clear aggressor that had to be dealt with), the movie's message of "Dicks, Pussies, and Assholes" would have held more as many "peace activists" (like Steven Seagal and Oliver Stone) have willful ignorance on Russia's aggression and atrocities on the country.

** Chris's reason for hating actors. [[spoiler:A young man getting gang-raped by a bunch of actors?]] Horrifying and disgusting. [[spoiler:The actors being in costume for ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' and only ever referred to by their character names?]] Hilariously absurd.

*** Another way to see it is that virtue isn't enough to provide world peace; you need actual skills and experience to achieve it. Violence isn't always the answer but it's necessary when there are no other options, especially when that threat refuses to listen. If you solely focus on virtue and the greater good, it allows people to manipulate you.

** Furthermore, the film’s “Dick” can also be seen in nuanced matter as Gary Johnston was shown as only one willing to adopt a more methodical approach (even if played for comedy through the black face and bad plastic surgery)) showing more success than the team’s default “blow everything up” with Derkastan's undercover going smoothly until the Team's impatience ruined it. This puts less “hawks are needed” and more “hawks should try to be subtle and methodical”.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Much of the humor is directed against targets like Creator/MichaelMoore, [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Kim Jong-il]], the films of Creator/MichaelBay, anti-war celebrity activists like Creator/GeorgeClooney and Creator/SeanPenn, and America's gung-ho behavior in UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror, all of which were political and cultural touchstones of the year (2004) when the film came out. Now that America's (mostly) left Iraq (which is now considered to be a major foreign policy blunder) and terrorism has faded from the agenda (with ISIS defeated), it can feel rather dated, especially with Kim Jong-il's death in December 2011.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece:
** Much of the humor is directed against targets like Creator/MichaelMoore, [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Kim Jong-il]], the films of Creator/MichaelBay, anti-war celebrity activists like Creator/GeorgeClooney and Creator/SeanPenn, and America's gung-ho behavior in UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror, all of which were political and cultural touchstones of the year (2004) when the film came out. Now that America's (mostly) left Iraq (which is now considered to be a major foreign policy blunder) and terrorism has faded from the agenda (with ISIS defeated), it can feel rather dated, especially with Kim Jong-il's death in December 2011.
** "America, Fuck Yeah!" started dating itself once Bed Bath and Beyond, which is mentioned in the song, started closing its stores in 2023 as it filed for bankruptcy.

** Furthermore, the film’s “Dick” can also be seen in nuanced matter as Gary Johnston was shown as only one willing to adopt a more methodical approach (even if played for comedy through black face and bad plastic surgery, shown to be more effective and the failure in Derkastan was caused by other team member’s impatience on Gary’s undercover) showing more success than the team’s default “blow everything up”. This puts less “hawks are needed” and more “hawks should try to be subtle and surgical in terms of actions against ass holes”.

** On a similar note, Creator/StevenSeagal would become a significant defender of UsefulNotes/VladimirPutin and approve Russia's aggression against Ukraine, becoming another celebrity who would endorse the actions of a warmongering despot.

* {{Applicability}}: Recently, many people think that had the movie was released with 2022 War on Ukraine in mind, the movie’s message of “Dicks, Pussies, and Assholes” would have held more as many “peace activists” (like Steven Seagal and Oliver Stone) have willful ignorance on Russia’s aggression on the country.

*** Furthermore, even when the actors who were parodies (except Sean Penn) found it hilarious, the film’s portrayal of activism—especially focusing on the celebrities and least favorable individuals—would have caused the movie’s message to be scrutinized as being made in bad faith as well.

* Applicability: Recently, many people think that had the movie was released with 2022 War on Ukraine in mind, the movie’s message of “Dicks, Pussies, and Assholes” would have held more as many “peace activists” (like Steven Seagal and Oliver Stone) have willful ignorance on Russia’s aggression on the country.

*** Furthermore, even when the actors who were parodies (except Sean Penn) found it hilarious, the film’s portrayal of celebrities—especially their worst antics or instances of misinformation—would have caused the movie’s message to be scrutinized as being made in bad faith as well.

*** Furthermore, even when the actors who were parodies (except Sean Penn) found it hilarious, the film’s portrayal of celebrities’ warts over their activism would not be seen in positive lights nowadays.

* ValuesDissonance: While the film does criticize the Iraq war, it also suggests that it may have been necessary (which was also Parker and Stone's own stance on it) and skewers activists opposed to the war by portraying them as violent radicals who are willing to join up with foreign dictators, and has them graphically killed as punishment. Given that the war is now largely seen as a bad idea, the film aligning opposition to it with being anti-American has not aged well.

* DesignatedHero: Team America themselves are a parody of this trope. They think of themselves as righteous combatants of terrorists when in actuality, they end up causing just as much damage. [[TropesAreTools This is likely the point though.]]

** A more positive way of looking at the above message is "violence is bad, of course, but promoting peace and diplomacy to people who are just too [[BloodKnight violent]] or [[KnightTemplar self-righteous]] to be reasoned with [[GoodIsImpotent just leaves you helpless]], [[NecessarilyEvil so it is at times quite necessary]]. The trick is to know when and where it is necessary to use it, and in what amounts, [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer and to not get too attached to it]]."

** Less ambiguously, the movie very openly mocks actors with public political causes as out-of-touch and narcissistic idiots who don't know what they are talking about.