Day 11: The Simpsons Movie (2007, Dir. David Silverman)
There seem to be some mixed feelings about The Simpsons these days, a lot of people seem to think the show has lost its way, is no longer funny and is simply inferior to the many other animated comedy shows out there. Well they mustn’t have seen The Simpsons Movie.
For me, there are many reasons why this movie works but on a ground level its simple, this movie is funny. And its not just funny for Simpsons fans; it’s a genuinely smart comedy giving out one liners, sight gags, slapstick humour and clever witticisms left, right and centre, truly delivering something for everyone. A pivotal factor in The Simpsons jump to the big screen is that it never feels small; it isn’t just a couple of episodes loosely strung together, it’s a great and compelling story that has you giggling from the get go. It seems common when a television show gets bigger it rarely gets better, but this is a testament that it can be done and done well by a talented team, remaining as funny as it has ever been and having a strong story to match.
The team in question use classic Simpsons humour, mixing it alongside doses of the outrageous style the show seems to have adapted in recent years, but both methods are effective; and with both ways working there is twice the amount of great comedy. The thing that will always put The Simpsons ahead of its peers is that it is not only very funny, but its very clever too, and it knows its clever. The film, much like the show takes every opportunity to cram in joke upon joke into every scene. This depth demands viewers to want to make repeat viewings, and in doing so you get a new laugh every time.
We also get to see the strength of the films writing with the eco sub-plot. Not merely a plot device, but a point highlighting a serious issue and something that the films creators seem to have a genuine concern about. However it is the ability to make light of this whilst still showing it is an actual real world problem that makes this factor work particularly well, being funny and also educating viewers.
The animation makes everything in this film look fantastic, and that’s no easy feat. After 20 years of the programme being on our screens it would be very easy to become complacent and just use the regular animation we’re used to. Fortunately the animation on display here is so loving crafted it is on par with any of the better feature animations out there today, hand animated and CG alike. Plus with the added bonus of the widescreen ratio, the film is given exceptional depth and detail, which treat us to the hard work that has gone into the art of every scene.
All of the Springfield regulars get a glimpse at the big screen too with everyone’s favourite getting a one liner along the way, it’s a shame we don’t get to see more from some of the classic characters but its always better to be left wanting more. And in doing do we get some ace new characters instead, especially the fantastic President Schwarzenegger and Tom Hanks scenes!
No, this film isn’t perfect but it does get a lot right on the money; for everybody watching there will be a few dud jokes and misfires (Alaskan tribes woman?) but the rapid rate of high class comedy will have you laughing again soon enough. Let’s just hope its not another 20 years before The Simpsons 2!
8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462538/
Extra: I still think Simpsons is better than Family Guy too!
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