The Simpsons movie

[The Dog]

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/ReviewComplete.asp?FID=11196

Empire Review
Even in a mediocre episode of The Simpsons there is one great gag. Back in the classic era, the first ten seasons, say, they created jokes for the ages; comic writing with the kind of snap and sizzle of Woody Allen in the ?60s or Neil Simon or Mel Brooks (all of whom have been satirised in yolk yellow). Beyond that, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the other one have warmly redefined our concept of the American family. It takes genius to do dumb so well. After 18 years of such consistency surely the next move for the Day-Glo dysfunctions of Homer and co. was a movie? Surely.
 
The Simpsons Movie has been ten yeas in the making. During this tricky decade, the one factor the crew of eleven writers (their finest) had trouble settling on is how a movie version of the half-hour Springfield spins would be different. After all, why buy a ticket for something you get ad infinitum on the box? Eighty minutes after Itchy nukes Scratchy on the moon (the literal opening salvo) you realise that the problem may have defeated them. The Movie is no more than a mediocre episode stretched like taffy till it splits. And there?s not one truly great gag to speak of.   
 
How did something so light and confident become so lumbering and unsure of itself? Everyone is trying too hard and getting nowhere. Lamed, as the later episodes have been, by an overt political agenda, the film so bangs the drum for Al Gore?s eco-message it borders on polemic. Saving the planet may be vital, but not at the expense of Homer?s sublime buffoonery please. The series is at its best when satirising the intricacies of ordinary life ? aim smaller, hit bigger.
 
With more time on their hands, everything seems to work against itself. There are odd pauses, mistimed punchlines ? the lovely jazzy rhythms of the old episodes becoming stilted and soggy. Worse still, the characters are shadows of their old yellow selves. Homer, by necessity the brainless centre of the story, never properly reaches his true absurdist extremes. Bart is entirely lost, his storyline ? weary of Homer?s shortcomings, he?s enticed to join the Flanders ? neutering the arch prankster. Bart needy? Come on. Meanwhile Lisa falls in love (not explored), Marge despairs of her husband (Zzzz?) and Maggie? Actually, Maggie keeps her end of the deal. No one, excepting the title family, gets much of a look in, and the paltry attempts to notch them up are less cameos than momentary blips. In what sane universe does a Simpson movie give Mr. Burns merely two scenes?
 
There is also the stunning fact that, between eleven of surely the funniest writers in America, no one could come up with a good story. Springfield sealed in a dome is about it, but even then nothing is made of the town?s collapse into anarchy, while in not-breaking-news-at-all, Homer has to learn to appreciate his family. Again.
 
It is a depressing experience to rain on this particularly beloved parade. So massive is the series achievement, it?s like punching a best friend in the mush. In pop cultural terms Groening and team are artists, the animation equivalent of Martin Scorsese ? imagine the likes of him delivering something so bereft of inspiration. You chuckle here and there, you enjoy the animation (given a bit more pep and computery dimension for the big screen), but the moment it takes off never comes. This is not the worst film of the summer, just the biggest waste.  Then, perhaps that is the problem. The Simpsons never needed to be a movie.
Verdict
The Simpsons Movie is like the mad moment in 1985 when Coca Cola decided to revamp their tried and tested beverage into New Coke. Take something everyone loves, and make it fizzier and sweeter, with a curious new tang. It utterly failed. The message is just as clear with Simpsonian antics ? if it ain?t broke, don?t make a movie?


Reviewer: Ian Nathan

Cant fault that review, and from a source that (usually) knows what its on about

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/simpsons_movie/

88% fresh from the critics.....85% fresh from the viewers.

Most of the reviews have been pretty positive.

You found one that wasn't.  From pretty much exactly the type of critic that would normally give it a bad review.....

and this surprises you?  what "whatever I'm bugging" is to politics, Izzy is to movies 

[Dead N' Bloated]

Saw it last night. One of the best movies I have ever seen. I loved it. It was a bit odd when you could see Bart's Doodle but pretty funny.


 

[25]

It's not bad. More entertaining than I'd expect and hour-and-seventeen-minute episode of the show to be, so it's got that going for it.

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

and this surprises you?  what "whatever I'm bugging" is to politics, Izzy is to movies 

nah i'm the same with movies .....

[masterrecorder]

Is it true, that there's a "ONLY TO SEE IN EUROPE" instead of Bart's cock?

[Dead N' Bloated]

Is it true, that there's a "ONLY TO SEE IN EUROPE" instead of Bart's cock?

Well not here in Australia, I saw Bart's willie. I was so surprised to. LOL


 

[norway]

Is it true, that there's a "ONLY TO SEE IN EUROPE" instead of Bart's cock?

Thats how it is, luckily american rating system doesn't affect us and we get the movies how they where intended
not sure thats a good thing here

[pilferk]

Is it true, that there's a "ONLY TO SEE IN EUROPE" instead of Bart's cock?

His willie was certainly there for all to see during the press screening I attended.

[norway]

Thats an political comment btw, in Europe it's usual to see nudity (not meaning porn) in films and tv.

[BlowUpYourVideo]

I loved the bits where Homer says he'll show that he's got "cojones" and when he tells the pig to drive before saying "...oh."

[25]

Thats an political comment btw, in Europe it's usual to see nudity (not meaning porn) in films and tv.

Well that's a bit of a generalization. If I recall correctly, HBO aired their ROME show in the US with its full complement of tits, ass, cock graffiti  and cusses - while also providing toned-down "clean" versions of scenes for certain european markets. 

But you're speaking as a Scandinavian, a people with only a passing familiarity with clothing. 

[The Dog]

and this surprises you?  what "whatever I'm bugging" is to politics, Izzy is to movies 

nah i'm the same with movies .....

hahha, great response 

[Mr. Dick Purple]

i saw it tonight.

nail in the coffin for me with regard to the simpsons. i mean......it was decent.......yeah i laughed a few times. was it a good movie? not really.

i wouldnt wanna see it again.

i think i know the reason too.

the seasons that i loved the simpsons for were around seasons 3 - 10. every episode in those seasons was gold to me. but when i think about it, maybe i just love them because of the nostalgia. i mean thsoe are the seasons i grew up with.

also, those are the seasons i watched when i was young. maybe i laughed at them because my humour wasn't mature. maybe at that age i responded to the style of humour of the simpsons better than the newer seasons.

maybe the simpsons hasn't really changed much. but i've just grown up. i don't find the jokes funny anymore. i don't find the characters and situations funny.

i think its time i forget about the simpsons as they were only a part of my life when i was younger. the movie just made me realize it even more.

Dude that's a sad thinking, nevertheless you could be right but don't forget there's always a child in you.

I like this movie, did anyone saw the ambulance in the Springfield gorge?? I was the only one laughing in the theater, and then everybody stared at me like "why is he laughing about?".

[Skeletor]

Wasn't that impressed by the movie... Like all the new Simpsons episodes, it's just trying too hard to be "wacky". Uninsipiring.

[AxlsMainMan]

I thought the first half-hour was pure gold.

...Then it got a bit bland, and sorta' picked up near the end.

Not incredible, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[pilferk]

I like this movie, did anyone saw the ambulance in the Springfield gorge?? I was the only one laughing in the theater, and then everybody stared at me like "why is he laughing about?".

I noticed it too...as did the person I was seeing it with.  There were some chuckles at that, so at least I know we weren't alone in the theater in noticing it.

Bart the Daredevil is pretty "old school".  Maybe pieces of the audience doesn't remember that one..

[stolat]

Is the ambulance parked there permanently now? 

[Eazy E]

Bart the Daredevil is pretty "old school". Maybe pieces of the audience doesn't remember that one..

I hope the audience would remember that...it's one of the MOST classic Simpsons moments!... on a recent episode Homer was doing a Springfield Gorge flashback and Lisa cuts it off by saying "No Dad, everyone's sick of that memory"... Bart also has a photo of Homer falling down on his nightstand at one point.? ?

[Butch Français]

saw it a few days ago, liked it a lot!

[pilferk]

Is the ambulance parked there permanently now? 

It's the one that crashed into the tree (sending Homer "replummeting" back into the gorge).  And it's still crashed into the tree.