Movie Review: The Simpsons Movie

I’m a Simpsons fan, to say the least. For proof, check out my Top 10 favorite episodes of all time.
But that doesn’t mean I went in to The Simpsons Movie with high expectations. Like most die-hard fans, I think The Simpsons has lost a bit of the luster it had in the first six seasons of existence. Four hundred episodes into its run, the latter episodes have felt a bit forced … but I suppose that happens when you’ve written 400 shows. You’d think plots would be hard to come by.
But plots were never what made The Simpsons, well, The Simpsons. It was the social satire. It was the sight gags. It was watching Homer Simpson get dumber, and therefore, become the most popular television character ever.
I’m happy to say the sight gags are plenty in the movie. I’m happy to say the social satire is fresh (when disaster looms, the patrons of Moe’s run to the local church while the congregation heads on over to Moe’s).
I’m also happy to say the plot of this movie is fun as well. It doesn’t lag, and when the movie ended, I actually turned to my wife and said, “Man that was quick.”
Minor spoilers: A quick description of this movie goes like this. Lake Springfield is one dump away from become a biohazard. So that means no more dumping bodies (sorry, Fat Tony), no more dumping flop sweat (sorry, Krusty) and no more dead possums (sorry, Cletus). The warnings escape Homer, who’s saved a pig from execution at the hands of the fast food industry and has kept him as a pet (you’ve seen the Spiderpig promos, I’m sure). Well, Homer’s been keeping the pig’s “droppings’ in a silo, and when it comes time to dump the silo, he, of course, picks Lake Springfield.
The results make Springfield an environmental disaster, and the government responds by dropping a giant dome over the town until it can think of something to do (blow it up). The Simpsons are nearly lynched until they find a way out of the bubble, and the rest of the movie is their attempt to come back and save their town.
There’s plenty of little side plots, tons of hilarious moments (Homer’s “chainsaw” and Homer jumping into a sinkhole two of my favorites) and there is, of course, the full frontal nudity from Bart … which I read about and expected, and when it came it still surprised me and yes, was hilarious.
And there are only few “celebrity” guests, something I feel the show has used as a crutch in its latter years (remember the boy band episode?). Green Day and Tom Hanks are about it, and they’re well done.
I left the movie theater pleased that The Simpsons creators pulled this off. That Top 10 list I mention earlier, this movie would have definitely made that list. It’s better than anything The Simpsons have done in the past 10 years … and don’t get me wrong, the past 10 years have still been better than most comedies on TV.
So, I give The Simpsons Movie ****1/2 stars out of five … not quite perfect, but as good as anything I could have hoped for from The Simpsons.
Mmmmmm, big screen.
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Side note: I almost dropped it a half star because of the theater I saw it in. I won’t name names (Sanford’s only theater), but there were more than a few who couldn’t keep quiet, had to yell things during the few slow parts and yes … somebody actually brought the laser pointer. I’d never actually been to a movie where somebody had one of those … until now. It wasn’t fun, so I’m definitely going to get this movie on DVD so I can enjoy it in the confines of my own home.
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Grade: **** 1/2 stars

Other Reviews:
The Simpsons Movie: ****1/2
Harry Potter (Phoenix): ****
The Transformers: *