Feature-film version of the beloved and long-running TV show, The Simpsons Movie faithfully recreates a typical episode with a flair not seen since the series´ heyday a decade ago.
The film isn´t a few episodes strung together and padded out, it´s a single show blown up to feature-length proportions and a genuine movie that makes you wonder why they didn´t do this years ago.
It´s good-natured, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny – fans of The Simpsons will have a lot of fun here, and the movie still remains accessible for others.
A variety of irreverent subplots merge together at the polluted Springfield Lake; when Homer dumps a silo full of pig crap (don´t ask) into it, the scale is tipped and the EPA is sent in to monitor the thousand-eyed fish. President Schwarzenegger´s randomly picked (“I was elected to lead, not to read”) solution: encase the town in a giant glass dome.
An angry mob comes after Homer, and he and Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie manage to escape and attempt to start a new life in Alaska. But when they learn that the government plans to blow up Springfield (and create the ‘new´ Grand Canyon), will they return to save their beloved town?
What´s great about the series is expanded on here – especially during a raucous, gag-a-minute (rather, gag-a-few-seconds) opening half hour where even the throwaway jokes had me in stitches (“Code Black? Black is the worst color of all… no offense, Carl”).
Problems are also magnified, however, and the film begins to lag when plot takes over (and especially during a lengthy family-values climatic sequence).
One other complaint: not enough time is spent with the other colorful residents of Springfield (including Mr. Burns and Apu, among others); almost everyone has a choice gag or two, however, if little more. Still, it´s plenty fun; instantly forgettable, but that will only make repeat viewings more rewarding.
Mostly-traditional animation has an artistic flair and distinct style that outshines many of the recent computer-animated films. Stay tuned during the credits for a couple extra gags and an orchestral rendition of “Spider-Pig”.
