20th Century Fox
Marge-inally satisfying
The Simpsons Movie falls short of expectations
By Beth Capper
Published: August 3rd, 2007 | 1:09am
So here it is: the much anticipated grand finale of the television series that has been part of our consciousness for more than two decades — a program I've been watching since age 5 — in the form of a feature-length movie.
Since 1987, The Simpsons has hilariously derided America and its government, never ceasing to be the benchmark for quality satirical animation. Without the groundwork made by its creator Matt Groening, it's fair to say that South Park, Family Guy, King of the Hill, Beavis and Butthead, or any other animated comedy series you care to mention might never have existed.
Movie versions of TV shows are expected to be, by definition, not just longer, but funnier, more intelligent, more outlandish, more colorful, and more action-packed than any episode. They should condense and render everything great about the show with Hollywood glitz and sparkle. This is where The Simpsons Movie falls short of expectations — it never attempts to go beyond the show, and often feels more like an overlong episode than a full-length movie.
If there is one thing that is bigger and bolder, it’s the plot. The Simpsons Movie takes an apocalyptic turn when Lake Springfield, which already has a serious pollution problem caused by its inhabitants carelessly dumping waste into it, turns toxic after Homer dumps his pig silo into it. The Environmental Protection Agency closes off Springfield in a giant dome and leaves its inhabitants to die, and the Simpsons have to escape a flame-wielding mob out to get Homer for dooming them, and flee to Alaska.
All of this sets the stage for the kind of clever gags and satirical observations The Simpsons is well known for, and the script throughout The Simpsons Movie is as water tight as any of the show's best episodes. However, by focusing so much on plot, Matt Groening and director David Silverman leave out the peripheral characters that have helped define The Simpsons over the years.There are no cameos from Krusty the Clown or Sideshow Bob, and Patty and Selma are nowhere to be found. The star-studded list of celebrity appearances is also fairly tame — there's Billy Joe from Green Day for a minute in the intro and Tom Hanks at the end, but that's about it. We see even less of the show's regular characters, aside from Marge, Homer, Maggie, Lisa, and Bart than we might in a 25-minute episode. Since these characters are almost as integral to why people love The Simpsons as the Simpsons themselves, it feels as though something vital is missing.
The Simpsons Movie is amusing and enjoyable eye candy, but as the end note of one of the most popular shows in television history, it's a letdown.
Issue #23
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more