The Simpsons Movie

It’s the event 18 years in the making. For lifelong fans of “The Simpsons” on TV, this could very well be the event of the year. Yet the negative word that has haunted the film from day one is the noticeable decline in quality over the past few years. Would the team be able to fight this and successfully expand the show into 90 minutes of pure Simpsons magic, or would it merely be a longer retread of recent episodes? The answer lies somewhere in between; while it by no means reaches the comedic heights of the series’ early years, THE SIMPSONS MOVIE is an enjoyable, laugh-filled film that passes by in no time and leaves the viewer satisfied.

The film’s plot (which has been kept mostly top secret), unsurprisingly has Homer bringing Springfield to the brink of destruction, inevitably reaching a state where only America’s favorite family can save it. There are side plots for each family member, including Homer and Marge’s ever romantic/always turbulent marriage, a new love for Lisa and Bart’s yearning for an honorable father figure. The main plot, which involves a national emergency isn’t even established until well into the film, as it should be; the film is more concerned with the humorous antics of the family than anything else. In focusing on the family, many Simpsons fans are likely to be disappointed; while the filmmakers have stuck as many supporting characters in the film as they possibly could, most of them are limited to one joke and not much more. Don’t expect a wide array of new characters either; aside from a government official (voiced by Albert Brooks), “President Schwarzenegger” and a cameo from a Hollywood A-lister, nearly every face is familiar.

But the big relief is that there are many genuinely hilarious moments in the film. The film format and PG-13 rating have allowed for many “shock” laughs, the most effective of which is used quite early in the film. It’s a joke that’s bound to upset the parents; for a brief moment, we are reminded of the edgier days when the Simpsons team was called on for public apologies. But the formula of joke after joke begins to falter; the film begins to drag near its middle, the gags become repetitive and more typical of recent episodes. When the jokes fail (more often than not, they are the jokes used in the many previews; by now, they’ve lost their humor), the film seems to die a bit. While the pace picks up as the film reaches its finale, it never quite recreates the edgy joy the writers clearly felt when they weren’t restrained to a plot. The film also attempts a number of large action sequences, poking fun at the summer blockbuster while trying to gain some excitement in its own right. These become a mixed blessing; the expanded, almost epic scope is neat for a while, but the film only comes alive when it returns to the suburban-level comedy it knows best.

What is quite surprising about this film is the level of honesty and seriousness it portrays. Unlike other comedies of its type, “The Simpsons” has always seemed earnest, especially when it concerns Homer and Marge. But here they break new ground; a videotaped monologue by Marge halfway through the film may be the most dramatic thing they’ve ever attempted, and it pays off. In those few moments, THE SIMPSONS MOVIE becomes truly dramatic, almost heartbreaking. It was a risky move to implement such a dramatic element in such a film, yet it is a complete triumph.

The film never reaches the heights of the series as a whole; there are no instantly classic lines, and the filmmakers struggle to create a thoroughly involving 90-minute film, but it is far from a disaster. Actually, the greatest achievement here may be the further characterization of the dynamic Simpson family themselves. Moments of brilliance early in the film show why the Simpsons have lasted all these years, and the rest of the film is solid enough to make THE SIMPSONS MOVIE a successful TV-to-film transfer.

***