Theatrical Review of The Simpsons Movie

---

Tools:
Send to a friend »

---

For crowd pleasing and beloved television properties, the transition from small to big screen can often be perilous. For reference, look no further than the original "Star Trek" series or the mid-80s live action incarnation of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe." In the former´s case, the film adhered too closely to the series; in the latter…well, only the names and situations were ported over (the mistake being no continuity). So when TV´s First Family of Animation (sorry Griffins and Flintstones), the Simpsons, made the jump, the collective fan boy nation sighed, hoping to get a movie on par with the best of the series instead of the maligned recent seasons.

Thankfully, "The Simpsons Movie" brings together the best aspects of the series into what is one of the funniest movies of the year (the other being the animated "Ratatouille"). Yes, better than the undeservedly praised "Knocked Up." This movie is that good.

When Homer dumps pig and human waste into a Springfield lake, the government (headed by President Schwarzenegger) throws a dome over the most polluted town in the world. The clan escapes to Alaska where they enjoy the quiet and picturesque beauty…until Tom Hanks encourages tourism to a new grand canyon somewhere between Capital City and Shelbyville. Yes, Springfield is going to be leveled. And only the Simpsons can save it.

What is it about this family that compels us to watch them six times a day, buy the DVD´s and then fork over even more money to watch them on the big screen? That´s been answered in too-many-to-count interviews and news stories: we can identify with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie in a way we can´t identify with many other pop culture icons. And yes, they are icons. After you have 400 episodes under your belt, you get "icon" status automatically.

From the beginning of the film, in which Homer chastises the audience (both inside the movie and in the real theater) for paying to see something they can get for free to the end titles, when the family watches the credits to acknowledge the people who made the film, "The Simpsons Movie" is full of self-referential and audience-winking in-jokes; an outsider can understand Itchy and Scratchy, but someone who has watched the entire series knows how the cat and mouse have tried to kill each other. The extremes their battle is taken to jabs the viewer in the side with a whisper "Get It?" We do get it.

We get how the movie and series is structured; the opening minutes of both versions dealing with an event only tangentially connected to the main plot. We understand in the middle of mayhem and chaos, this family comes together when they need to the most. We´re no longer worried when Homer strangles Bart, sending the boy´s tongue shooting out of his mouth; we know they will be the eventual heroes of the piece. We even know Homer will realize just how lucky he is to have Marge as a wife and will do anything to keep her safe. And we know to expect some sort of political or social conscious in the story. Global warming and pollution are the instigators here; past culprits have been gay marriage, alleged murder, business scam artists and shoplifting.

In the midst of what we know, "The Simpsons Movie" is often sidesplitting, even though we´ve seen it dozens of times before. The silo holding Spider-Pig´s droppings which Homer dumped into the lake? The cops find it, though Homer doesn´t think anyone will come after him. Three seconds later, "Return to Homer Simpson (No Reward)" is revealed to have been scrolled on the opposite side of the silo. Of course Homer is an idiot-that´s what makes him our loveable Homer.

And shortly afterward, with an angry mob in the yard, Homer worries they will hurt Marge and the kids. They won´t, someone yells out. Then someone remembers Grandpa; he can´t take the strain. And from the mob, Grandpa´s voice-he´s one of them.

This isn´t highbrow entertainment; a slightly too long joke about various Springfield objects covering Bart´s penis as he skateboards naked through town is reminiscent of "Austin Powers" and should have been edited for, er, length. Pokes at religion, the Fox network, demonic possession, the government, puppy love and American military intelligence are all present and accounted for in just the ways we´d expect.

If there is one problem with the film, it slows down to express sentimentality near the end without a joke or punch line for minutes on end. Sure, it´s needed and appreciated, but I squirmed in my seat just a bit knowing what Marge did to their wedding video. It´s uncomfortable, knowing full well we were laughing seconds before and praying we´ll be laughing in the very near future.

Otherwise, "The Simpsons" is no longer the demonic program many people feared when it premiered in 1989. It´s actually wholesome entertainment, believe it or not. Only the showing of Bart´s "doodle" and his subsequent public shaming can be remotely offensive and, really, if you don´t know what you´re seeing, "it" doesn´t look like "it," if you get my meaning. This is a family and community working together to solve a problem. If that´s not family entertainment, I don´t know what is.

This movie isn´t designed to withstand the ages and be criticized to within an inch of its death. No, it´s supposed to be enjoyed and laughed at. It´s supposed to allow the audience 80-something minutes of time with familiar characters in dark theater. Much like "Transformers" in all these respects, it wouldn´t be fair to pummel it from any critical viewpoint. "The Simpsons Movie" delivers on its promise to make the audience laugh. It shouldn´t be asked to do anything else. Of course it´s hopelessly illogical; that´s the point.

"The Simpsons Movie" rates a 7.5 out of 10, making it one of the best times I´ve had the theater this year. With the sole exception of a minor slowdown, the movie is never boring and rarely without a laugh. It´s like going to see friends…just bigger and better drawn. It´s fun just like "Transformers" was and that´s all we can expect of it. "Citizen Kane" this isn´t. And it was never intended to be.

---

---