A prime time darling of the FOX television network, The Simpson's has been on the air since 1989, and still continues to draw a wide audience. The ultimate step to the big screen was only a matter of time, and 2007 finally spelled the moment that the creators, animators, and voice actors would finally get their chance. The anticipation for this film has been a long time coming, and I was one of those excited fans that can still remember sitting down to watch the first episode so many years ago. That nostalgia is what carried me to the opening day of The Simpson's Movie, and convinced me that I was going to be in for a cinematic treat. After all, this was the chance for the writers of the show to break through television standards, and do or say anything that they wanted to in a 90 minute format. The freedom granted to long time writers Matt Groening and James L. Brooks is exactly what they needed to really put them over the top, and I was there to witness one of the first showings.

For those unfamiliar with the Simpson's family, we have a father that worlds in a nuclear plant named Homer, his wife Marge, and three kids; Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Bart is a trouble-maker in ever sense of the word, while Lisa is the Straight-A student that just wants to make the world a better place. Maggie is just a baby, so she doesn't get much screen time, but when she does the show tries to create a humorous atmosphere around her. The show started out being centered around Bart and his exploits, while the rest of the family were supporting characters. As the years have passed, the show has started focusing more on Homer and his antics, and the movie picks up right where the show has been leading the last few years. Homer is basically the main character of the film, and as a result gets a majority of the screen-time when it comes to The Simpson's Movie. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but I did feel it limited the range that the film could take.

The film starts with the discovery that Lake Springfield has become unbearably polluted, and that the people of the city need to stop throwing garbage into it or there will be catastrophic consequences. Of course it is Homer that ultimately refuses to listen to the town and the warnings from his wife, deciding that this would be the best place to toss his silo of Pig droppings. The droppings were accumulated by a new pet pig that he gains at the very beginning of the film, and rather than dispose of them properly, he just drops the silo in the lake. The repercussions are almost immediate as the lake turns to toxic sludge, and the town is deemed by the U.S. Government to be in need of a quarantine. The end result is that Springfield is covered with an immense dome to protect the outside world from everything on the inside, and everyone turns the blame on Homer. We all know it to be his fault, and the movie tries to send a message that if Homer can fix the problems that he caused, that everything will be all right. The question left for the audience, is how Homer can possibly get out of this situation.

The one thing that The Simpson's Movie really has going for it is the brand name, and the built in audience that is sure to make its way to theaters. I don't think that the film will be very enjoyable to people outside of that demographic, and I am also here to say that a lot of fans may also be just as disappointed in the movie as I was. First I must admit, there were several moments (jokes) within the story where I was laughing really hard, and which I will remember for a while. In between those moments though, there were many instances where I felt the story dragged, where the jokes were just not funny, and sequences that were just too forced and ended up being frustrating rather than funny. The script felt like it needed a little work, and maybe it is just because I have seen many of these "inside jokes" before, but a lot of the film fell on deaf ears for me. I feel bad panning the movie of a show that I have really loved over the years, but when I walked out of the theater I was part saddened and part frustrated in how the film played out. I think they could have done better, and that there is something to be said for originality, even if we already know a lot about the characters. Some may find this story full of heart, and while I think there is a good message of family buried within, I just didn't enjoy the movie as a whole, and must refrain from giving a positive recommendation on The Simpson's Movie. As a theatrical release this was a failure, but I think that the DVD audience will still love it.








Recommended: No