Hmm, a movie based on an animated television show that's still currently running on the air... my response was this, "South Park already did it!" Now I haven't seen a fresh episode of The Simpsons in roughly four seasons, but old school Simpsons is something I can watch all day. I think I hit the Simpsons wall somewhere along the "Grimey" episode and it stopped being a must watch for me. Still, the first ten or so seasons I'll rank up there with the best TV has to offer so I was excited to see the movie and was very curious to see what they would do with the extra hour or so of movie time. As usual this isn't an actual review, just some impressions. There will be spoilers, you are forewarned.
They hit you early in the 20 Century Fox logo with Ralph Wiggum trumpeting in the credits. From there the movie is non-stop gags and one liners. The jokes don't always hit, but there isn't much time to contemplate before the next gag hits. It's the Simpsons so you gotta be on your toes both with the dialog and any on-screen goodness they might try to sneak past you.
The movie plays like a Greatest Hits album. Almost every gag and plot device is a variation we've already seen in the television show. The big glass dome crisis hearkens back to Burns blocking out the sun. Homer's Eskimo vision quest parallels the one he went on with a Johnny Cash voiced Coyote. Simpsons have been the target of a vigilante mob before. Lisa's romance plays like all the others we've seen before as well. Even the style of joke telling is familiar and distinctive and will call back specific episodes. You know what though? It's not a bad thing. The lack of originality is bolstered by the exectution. For example, because of "Joey Joe Joe" I knew exactly what was going to happen the moment Bart doodled on a "Wanted" poster. I also know that Homer + Springfield Gorge is never a good thing. It's not original, but it didn't matter. It still worked. The movie is full of moments like these and instead of feeling tired and hackneyed, it's comforting.
Um, remember when Bart was the focal point of The Simpsons? Anyway after 17 years or so he's now an emo mess. WTF? Anyway, what they decided to do with that extra hour they had to work with by going in depth with the characters more than they ever have. Bart expresses a desire to be loved. Marge shows that she has a tipping point in her marraige. Homer accepts a guilt based responsibility. There were some touching moments, but the feeling was like when you hang around too long with your drinking buddies and all of a sudden they start talking about their real problems. It's just a tad unsettling.
Cameos! Green Day meeting their demise was cool and Tom Hanks's bit was my favorite in the movie. The only gripe I have is that I would have rather them use President Ranier Wolfcastle rather than his real life allegory President Schwarzenegger. It didn't seem right since they didn't even use the Guvenators voice.
All the bit players are back! From Gabbo to Drederick Tatum to Jacques the Bowling Lothario. I coulda used a little more Disco Stu though.
They did go the adult route on a few occasions. I could have lived forever without ever seeing Bart's wenus. Homer giving the finger was great. Otto took a big bong hit. Marge belted out a "goddamn". I remember the days when The Simpsons were seen as radical and now their extremes are still well below the tamest South Park episodes.
Still if you enjoy the Simpsons you'll enjoy the movie. They did it right this time.
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