The Simpsons Movie
I grew up with the Simpsons. I don't think they were airing the Tracy Ulman show when the Simpsons debuted or at least, if it was on it was on much later than I was allowed to stay up. But I have been an avid viewer ever since it first aired here.
Some might even call me a Simpsons geek. I am definitely pickled tink by some of the characters. My second published piece was in a Simpsons fanzine: a pic of Homer with a mowhawk and leather jacket - lost boys style. I think he even had a pierced nose. One of the first cassettes I owned was the simpsons sing the blues (the first was glove slap...I mean love shack.) I even used to record every single episode on video. I think I got through about 6 seasons until I finally realized they weren't going to stop playing repeats and that recording it would probably be redundant in a year or two with DVD increasing in popularity - still waiting on season 6 to be released though some seven or eight years since it aired for the first time. They've really gotta get their act together with that.
But I've tried to steer clear of the typical fan boyish attitude.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen. Please excuse me, I'm off to find an insult more worthy of my sarcasm."
I have my private giggle fits every saturday morning then keep my opinions on the show to myself and off fan forums. I've been aware that among the "fans" of the show there is growing resent that since season 10 they've been slipping.
"Correction: Season ten is when they jumped the shark."
Geez, will you shut up already? As my simpson antagonist you're starting to make me sound like a pathetic nerd with nothing better to do than pick faults in kid's shows.
"Cursed wench! Bah, have your blog foul temptress. Soon your world will crumble beneath you and you will be powerless against my will. mmmhmhmh...hehehe...BWAHAHAHA!"
Oh for the love of Bob, go eat a cookie so I can get on with this thing already.
"Gasp! She knows my weakness! To the Comic book store guy mobile..."
You mean your Ford Cortina?
"Sigh, yes, if anyone wants me I'll be in the comic book store guy mobile with my sweet crumbed masters."
Ahem...
Personally I think the simpsons gets better with every episode. The show constantly amazes me with what they get away with. They've always been pushing the boundaries of censorship and keeping their audience on their toes and I think that is part of what has made them so popular. People identify with the characters and all of the things they say and do that lesser shows don't have the balls to touch - the blasphemy in particular is my favorite aspect. Ned Flanders and the very human Rev. Lovejoy crack me up without fail.
I don't think the movie quite recaptured that. Sure we have scenes where Ned, Rod and Todd Flanders thank the lord for a bountiful penis, Homer flips the bird, Otto pulls a cone and my favorite: Homer and the family enter church late and Homer dismisses the christians inside as "pious morons too busy talking to their phoney baloney god." But nothing any more risky than what you'd get in teen romantic comedy. Perhaps because it was written by the same people that were writers on the series pre-season 10 and they've since moved onto more dangerous talk? Yeah, that was a question more than a respons. I don't know. Again, I hate resorting to fanboyish judgements on an institution that made TV worth watching for me.
But that really was the only thing that disappointed me about this movie.
If I could fault anything else about this movie it would be that I was laughing too much. These are characters that have been with us for about 15 years. It's hard not to laugh when Ralph decides he likes men. Or when Cletus tries to sympathise with the head of the EPA by admitting that he was once beaten at tick tack toe by a chicken. Or when Dr. Nick's last words are "Bye everybody." No doubt fans will be pleased with the in-jokes, like when Homer and Bart revisit Springfield Gorge, and the marvelous trip Homer takes with "boob lady."
The animators really sparkled here too. It might just be 2D but even still the colours, textures, details and motion are what gives this movie a little extra special touch.
And as always the voice tallent is spectacular. It doesn't take much to do a funny voice but expressing the full spectrum of emotions in character is something quite
The plot definitely resembles the structure of an episode of the Simpsons though. But to just leave it at that would be wrong. It's a journey that reminds us exactly why this family has captured our hearts, made us laugh and cry, maybe even taught us a little about humanity along the way.
It also has plenty of boob and dick jokes. And isn't that what life is all about?
I give it four thumbs up. But grown-ups? Definitely take your kids. They'll love it.
I have a pet peeve I wanted to share here as well. I hate commercials. While waiting for this movie to start I sat through something like half an hour of commercials - not just trailers for ratatouli or whatever big budget fantasy wish they were lord of the fuckin potter movies - but commercials for news programs, local bars, a fucking add for a dramatic series on channel fucking seven, shit that we see on television. It's not just the general crappy content of the commercials that pissed me off, they're getting longer. I don't stop what I am doing to arrive at the cinemas at the time stipulated on the ticket to catch five minutes of mobile phone commercials. They're charging us more for tickets and taking more of our time. Imagine how much this adds up to over a life-time. I'm sure I'm not the first to notice this.
But seriously, cinemas: pick up your game or we'll have to start getting all our movies on DVD.
