The Simpsons Movie
Released: July 27, 2007
Director: David Silverman
Reviewer: Eric
No, The Simpsons started out in 1987 on the Tracey Ullman Show. These thirty second tracks were so popular it gave the Tracey Ullman Show huge ratings. When 1989 came along The Simpsons had their own show, this time though episodes lasted up to twenty two minutes. It's 2007 and we are finally seeing a Simpsons movie, why did it take so damn long for a movie that didn't offer too many laughs?
The Simpsons movie starts out with a lame Itchy and Scratchy movie. This short cartoon, less than ten minutes long, has no real violence at all. I was really puzzled by this since all the Itchy and Scratchy sketches on television have a lot of violence, this one didn't. When this was over we see the Simpsons in a movie theater, with Homer saying "boring". He was right, but the best part of this was when he said how we can watch this same stuff on television for free. I thought this was pretty funny however when the movie ended I did feel ripped off, I can see this for free. Heck I saw a lot of this same humor over and over again in all the years the Simpsons have been on television.
We are now treated to the Simpsons movie after this short
disaster. Homer and Bart are bonding, which leads to Bart skating
boarding nude at the end of their dare game. They didn't show
and blood or the violence we see all the time in those Itchy and
Scratchy bits, but we are treated to two seconds of Bart's tiny
penis. It isn't in great detail, but it is there for everyone
that paid to see this movie. This of course pisses Bart off and
he once again wants to be part of the Flander's family. Wonderful
the movie is already starting to re-use old material.
At this time Homer saves a pig, which he dresses up into various characters. Spider-Pig is the most famous once since we saw this damn scene every where. On the Internet, commercials, movie trailers, the Spider-Pig thing was every where. When I finally got to see this in the movie it just wasn't as funny Looks like some of the best scenes were already shown. If you are expecting to see Spider-Pig for a lot, you will be disappointed, I know I was. They advertised this pig as being a big role in this movie, he is gone after twenty or thirty minutes into the actual movie. Thank you to whomever's decision this one was, I have another reason to be upset with this movie.
I don't want to give away too much more to the plot since this movie is still in theaters, but I can tell you the major plot, there is one. Homer messes up AGAIN and now Springfield is trapped in a big glass dome. Now it is up to Homer and the rest of the Simpsons to save Springfield for the four hundredth time. Can they do it? I hope so, it would be a shame if something would happen to Springfield, even if it would though they'd be able to build right back up.
Most of the jokes are re-used, but it was nice to see some old things in the movie. We get to see some hot spots in Springfield like the Springfield Gorge. Remember when Bart tried to jump it, but Homer ended up doing it instead? Do you remember when the Simpsons decide to move from Springfield, all fifty seven times? How about, like I said before, Bart wanting to be part of the Flander's family, remember that? How about when the...you get the point I think. These jokes were funny the first time around and maybe even the second or third time, but after that it's just sad. I maybe laughed three times during this movie and one of those times I sort of forced myself since everybody else did.
The best part of this movie was seeing all the Simpsons character on the
big screen. Since there are so many damn characters we didn't get to see
some of them for too long, but that is alright. Every one is treated to a
new character in this film, a Scottish boy that Lisa loves. He isn't in the
movie too much either and they use pretty lame jokes when he is around. Wow
they compared him to the lead singer of U2, I never heard any other show do
that before? Wait, this is a movie, just change show to movie, it really doesn't
make too much of a difference. Green Day is in the movie too for a short two
minutes and this was one of the points where I did laugh. Their two minutes are
pretty damn funny and you will see them in here towards the beginning so don't
worry.
Final Verdict
I wasn't expecting too much with this movie before I saw it so I wasn't let down too much. After weeks of the movie being in the top five and hearing so many good things about it I finally gave in and saw it. I did feel ripped off since a lot of the jokes/scenarios were used before on the television show, but it was sort of neat to finally see the Simposons on the big screen. There are a few times when the jokes drag on too much, there is one towards the end that was way too long, but a lot of comedies seem to do this any more. I was hoping for this movie to make me fall in love with the television show again, haven't watched it for years now, but I doubt I'll be helping the shows ratings any time soon.
Rating
3.75 out of 10