Review

Review Date: 29-July-07
Spoiler Rating: Low
Juju Judgment: Just OK

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

When I first heard about a possible Simpsons movie I wondered if the collaborators on the durable TV show could sustain its snarky, rambling humor for an hour and a half, or if it wouldn't translate to the big screen. The good news is, Simpsons humor can stretch beyond 22 minutes without too much strain and has not lasted two decades for nothing. The less-good news is, The Simpsons Movie is unnecessary. There is no compelling reason for the residents of Springfield to star in a major motion picture other than dollar signs in studio executives' eyes. Just as the cinematic treatment does not distort the experience, neither does it enhance it. As Homer says at the beginning of the show, why should idiots pay to watch something in a theater that they get for free at home?

So here we have a lengthy Simpsons episode offering familiar characters, family moments, and a decent number of laughs, but somehow less than a movie. Sticking with tried-and-true themes, the screenplay centers on the dimwitted Homer (Dan Castellaneta), who so contaminates Lake Springfield that the crazed head of the EPA (Albert Brooks) seals off the town in a giant dome. The ensuing adventure tests the bonds between Homer and Marge (Julie Kavner) and Homer and Bart (Nancy Cartwright), and gives screen time to regulars like Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Chief Wiggum, Kent Brockman and, gulp, President Arnold Schwarzenegger. Other regulars do not get the treatment they deserve, including Mr. Burns and Smithers and the wonderful Lisa (Yeardley Smith), who is relegated to a romantic role. There are a few social and political gibes and surprisingly few celebrity guests (Tom Hanks and Green Day). In other words, the movie is safe, sweet-tempered, predictable, and underwhelming. I could turn on the television for the same effect and wouldn't have to suffer through non-mutable ads.

Copyright © 2007 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.