THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
For One Movie Critic, First-Time Laughs From A Long-Time Series
The Popcorn Reel Movie Review: "The Simpsons Movie"
By Omar P.L. Moore/July 28, 2007
Larger, hungrier (and more stretchy) than life: Big screen movie fun as The
Simpsons family watch themselves on the small screen at the movies on a big
screen. Capiche? (Poster: Twentieth Century Fox; animation created
by Matt Groening)
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True story: this reviewer has never (in the 20 or so years of "The Simpsons")
seen a single episode of America's longest-running and most successful
television series.
Expectations were less than stellar coming in, but coming out of "The Simpsons
Movie", David Silverman's big-screen foray of the world's most popular family
from Springfield, Ohio, one discovers 87 minutes of constant fun and endless
entertainment. As the movie's poster suggests (above) Homer Simpson, the
pathetic patriarch of this floundering and dysfunctional bunch bites off much
more than he can ever hope to chew. Stubborn, and more bumbling than
Inspector Closeau, Homer pollutes the environment at will, with manure fit for a
pig. In between he has time to asphyxiate his mischievous son Bart, who
secretly longs to be a part of The Flanders clan next door. While Marge
prognosticates on a key riddle that a church going relative has theorized, Lisa
Simpson has warned of the dangers of pollution and global warming getting almost
no one (including her dad Homer's attention.)
It is this lesson of waste not, want not and righteous selfishness that reminds
one of America's "me" generation of the eighties (where the tv series sprung),
that "The Simpsons Movie", which opened yesterday worldwide, excels in.
Using satire most effectively to make points and drive home laughter, "The
Simpsons Movie" showcases great animation (due mainly to Matt Groening, creator
and developer of the television series, and James L. Brooks) and voice talents
of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Hank Azaria, among a
panoply of others. There are a host of gags, clever devices, witty
refrains, and always, always nudge-nudge, wink-wink humor. It is these
characteristics that have presumably enabled the television series to endure and
thrive through four U.S. presidencies (a fifth presidency shows up in the film),
and what makes "The Simpsons Movie" lovable and pure fun.
Aside from wit and satire, another main attraction of "The
Simpsons Movie" is Matt Groening's eye-popping animation, as seen here, where
Homer witnesses a vision of a shaman-type character.
(Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox via Matt Groening)
In the film, the city of Springfield is in danger of being
polluted and is a polluter. Its domed status, enforced by the EPA puts one
in the mind of the Superdome in New Orleans almost two years ago, serving as an
apt, if unintentional metaphor. Someone has to save the town from itself,
and guess who will be called upon to do it? "The Simpsons Movie" uses
standard story devices and human elements like redemption, recommitment and
rejuvenation and is sprinkled with moments of grotesque comedy.
Occasionally bawdy, and sometimes sobering, "The Simpsons Movie" makes a
memorable first-time impression, not only for people who have never before set
eyes on it on the small screen, but for its billions of dyed-in-the wool fans
the world over. The creators of the series and this film can do even
better however, and no doubt there will be big-screen sequels on the way.
"The Simpsons Movie" won't necessarily make this critic catch up on 20 years of
fun, sarcasm and comedic capers, or feel remotely enticed to start watching new
episodes (or re-runs) on television, but if the film ever gets made as a
Broadway play (where it would excel) or the second coming of this laugh-fest
hits the big screen, count this humble critic in.
"The Simpsons Movie" stars the excellent voice talents of
Dan Castellaneta (as Homer Simpson and numerous other characters), Julie Kavner
(as Marge Simpson), Nancy Cartwright (as Bart Simpson), Yeardley Smith (as Lisa
Simpson), Harry Shearer (as Ned Flanders and numerous other characters), Hank Azaria (as Moe and numerous other characters) and Albert Brooks (as EPA
head Russ Cargill.) There are several celebrity voice cameos as well.
The film, which opened yesterday worldwide, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture
Association of America for irreverent humor throughout. Its duration is
one hour and 27 minutes. The film features
a nude Bart Simpson (cover your eyes!) and some moments of animation that
especially small kids may find a little disturbing or frightening.
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