Review: The Simpsons Movie
by malik on Jul.29, 2007, under movies
After 18 seasons and countless rumors, the gold-platinum standard of satirical television has finally made the leap to the big screen. Only the Simpsons can have an opening sequence mocking their faithful who has supported them all these years. The Simpsons Movie has a strong 25-minute opening start, a bit sluggish middle, and a quasi-competent resolute end. It had a long episodic feeling which wasn’t a knock on the movie, but a create to the well-written series. The movie’s plot is an impending environmental catastrophe and a pig that’s the tipping point. Yup, that’s it. You can make a case about environmental and religious ideology, but that’s a philosophical debate for those who need to chill a bit more in life. Putting the cynical moneymaking profit motive aside, the series would have not lasted this long and the movie wouldn’t had been made if it wasn’t for one important central point. It had to be funny. The level of such hilarity will be debated for years to come.
The Simpsons Movie was really good in its honest faith attempt to be broad enough for non-casual/casual and diehard fans to enjoy. There are a lot of funny moments throughout the movie. I particularly enjoyed the “Opener,” Bart skateboarding in the buff, Ned making hot cocoa, Homer’s style of fishing, Crazy Cat Lady washing her cats, and FOX’s annoying plugs for shows during a show. There are lots of sight gags if you’re quick enough to catch them. Yet, longtime fans would probably agree with me that the cast of thousands could have been better utilized. The nuclear family dominated almost all of the screen time. The wacky town folks that we love and have followed since the show’s inception are cast aside as window dressing. A cameo from a much praised two-time Oscar winner, but no Sideshow Bob? Also, you don’t have to be a diehard to get that Rainier Wolfcastle is Arnold Schwarzenegger, so they could’ve easily put Rainier in the flick.
Yet in typical Simpsons fashion, the movie does have a lot of heart. No matter how much Homer blunders, the family still rallies around him. It’s pretty much like every family. A bit dysfunctional, but very caring and enduring. A touching scene in which Homer falls on an ice patch while a Carpenters song played had me misty eyed. Props to the writers for paying homage to the Springfield Gorge, which was made legendary thru Season Two’s episode, “Bart the Daredevil.” The Simpsons Movie is not better than any of the series magnificent episodes, but like the overwhelming majority of their episodes, it’s enjoyable enough to view multiple times. And that’s the brilliance of The Simpsons. You can watch them as many times as you like and it’s still pretty funny. As a longtime Simpsons fan, I’ll gladly take that.
