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The
Simpsons Movie
(2007)
 
Nearly twenty years after their characters first
appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show, and then undisputedly
revolutionized the face of animated television and serialized
comedy, America's (and possibly the world's) favorite dysfunctional
family hits the big screen. While The Simpsons Movie provides
us little we, as a faithful viewing audience of two decades,
haven't seen in some form before, it nevertheless delivers
the same unmatched wit, pointed political and social commentary,
and rollicking good time anyone who's ever seen the show would
expect.
I'll be honest; I was afraid that I was walking into an overlong
episode, paying $11 to see something I have seen for years,
can see on half a dozen television channels any day of the
week, or on what is an ever-growing shelf of past seasons on
DVD. Unfortunately I wasn't too far off that mark. Had
this been any other television series, I would have hated it
for the simple fact that—some graphic (albeit animated)
nudity, obscene gestures and a swear word or two aside—it
doesn't push the boundaries of taste or humor that it did when
it caused such a stir for doing in the late Eighties. But
this is The Simpsons. Haven't they pushed the
envelope enough? Can we really expect them to continue,
even when they make the move to the big screen? Let's
face it: creator Groening and cohorts have earned the right
to make a ninety-minute television episode and make millions
of dollars for it.
It's difficult to say what I really want to about the film
without giving anything away, and I don't want to rob anyone
of the full comedic impact the film is sure to have by divulging
even a single joke, plot point or cameo of a past character. It's
a miracle to me that 20th Century Fox could remain so tight-lipped
about the production for so long, utilizing simple iconography
and product-placement tie-ins to promote the film rather than
a slew of trailers or anything else that might reveal the plot
of the film. And the secrecy pays of brilliantly from
the first frame of the film to the end of the credits.
The
film is as dense as it can handle both in terms of plot twists
and meanderings and gags, and not a single element doesn't
live up to the near-infamous legacy that the show has left
for it. I was quite literally laughing the entire film, and
wouldn't wish any less for anyone else. The
same genius timing and mastery of the non-sequitur that the
writers of the television series have utilized since the show
began are here in full force and never let up. It's very
nearly the perfect movie-going experience for any fan (or non-fan
if there are any) of The Simpsons.
Is there anything more I can say? You bet. But again,
I don't want to be the one to rob anyone of a single laugh,
because that's what one wants from a Simpsons movie,
after all. There are enough quotable lines and memorable
segments here to last another twenty years, and I can't wait
to relive them all with my friends and co-workers as we share
our favorites with each other on Monday morning. It'll
almost be like the first few Simpsons seasons, when
it was all so new, and one could scarcely have a conversation
without hearing a quote from or reference to the show. And
that's really what we need again. This is one movie that
I genuinely hope revitalizes the slumping series and spawns
a slew of equally superb Simpsons sequels.
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All contents ©
2004-2009 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
David
Silverman
Writer: Matt
Groening, James L. Brooks, Al Jean
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria
Distributor: 20th
Century Fox
Runtime: 87
min
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: July
27, 2007
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