The Simpsons Movie
Reviewed by David on August 03, 2007
After nearly 20 years of The Simpsons, it's almost impossible for a film adaptation of the series to live up to expectations. For some reason the writers are compelled to up the ante and put the entire town of Springfield at risk for the Simpsons to save. Naturally, if the characters are getting the big-screen treatment, the story must be equally oversized. The U.S. government installs a gigantic dome over Springfield after the town becomes the nation's worst environmental disaster. Of course, Homer dumped a massive container of his pet pig's droppings into the Springfield lake causing the pollution.
Throughout the movie, the typically razor sharp cultural satire of the TV show shines occasionally, only to be reduced to mediocrity with silly physical shenanigans. Even the Bruckheimer-esque plot and over-the-top ending can't be considered ironic as the film actually takes it seriously. The Simpsons Movie should have been an ultra-condensed version of the half hour television series. Unfortunately, it's bogged down by consistently unfunny characters like Marge and Lisa, who perpetually steal time from the comedy that could have been.
With a cast of hundreds The Simpsons frequently relies on side-characters to provide big laughs. But in The Simpsons Movie these characters are stampeded by a strange focus on the Simpson family. To add insult, a new do-gooder Irish boy is introduced for Lisa to crush on. Not only does the script not allow the funny characters to help out, it introduces an entirely new unfunny character to waste screen time with Lisa. Good, the movie was getting too funny, let's slow it down with a Lisa/Marge boredom-inducing hulk smash.
It's not that this film isn't hilarious--it is. But the inconsistencies and the wasted opportunities do disappoint. A little less slapstick comedy and a bit more screen time given to The Simpsons bit-players would have gone a long way. A cultural icon like The Simpsons isn't always perfect, but it certainly comes close.
Discuss The Simpsons Movie