by Ken Russel Go (H4A)

After 18 years of waiting and sitting on the couch, the Simpsons finally arrived on the big screen. Not satisfied with simply ruling our television screens, the classic American family has decided to add to its already impressive resume a big screen adaptation, with the eponymous nuclear family placed dead center in the story. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and even Maggie have places in the plot, although of unequal importance. The entire town of Springfield is also cast for this grand production, from the iconic mogul Mr. Burns, to the less than notable Bumblebee Man, albeit in minor insignificant roles. Some new body parts have also been thrown into the mix like “Bart junior” and Eskimo Jugs. So, are you prepared for the Simpsons Movie?

It starts out with an amusing prologue, one that sets the tone of the story: Simpson. Then after a pseudo-opening sequence showing the average lives of our favorite American family, the real story begins to unfold. Environmental pollution, government conspiracy, and personal epiphany are all main points in the story. Homer, Marge and Bart are all given roles that fit well in the progression of events. The only exception is probably Lisa whose side-story seems out of place in the whole scheme of things. The plot is easy to follow and enjoyable for anyone willing to have a laugh.

The Simpsons Movie delivers exactly what it promises: a very Simpson experience. The movie itself doesn’t feel any different from the usual fare of episodes except for the noticeably longer duration (approximately 87 minutes). Even the movie seems to acknowledge this in one of the earlier sequences by means of a joke. It presents nothing that hasn’t already been done, but then again, it IS the Simpsons. The movie actually tends to feel a bit lacking in areas. It really feels no different from what you see on TV, which might not necessarily be a bad thing. If you’re looking for an epiphany of any sort from the movie like Homer, this much is certain: you’re not going to get any. The movie may not be anything special, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t up to the Simpson caliber. In the end, it’s just a really long episode.

Nevertheless, the movie is more than entertaining — it’s downright hilarious. The plot holds together surprisingly well despite the mind-boggling and confusing trailer. Oddly enough, the movie makes sense in a very Homer way. The side-jokes are always funny and there are many moments when you feel the seats shaking from sheer laughter. Crude humor, witty commentary, and modern parody are mixed well throughout the movie. There’s not a dull moment in sight, and even serious moments are spiced up with appropriate humor. The gags are simply, without an ounce of doubt, funny. Matt Groening is good at what he does and for the most part, the Simpsons is a good movie; not ground-breaking, perhaps, but definitely funny.

Overall, curious newcomers and faithful fans alike will enjoy the Simpsons’s transition to the big screen. Expectations should not be too high though – after all, it is just Homer.

Picture sources: http://www.toxicshock.tv/news/wp-content/uploads/simpsons_the_movie.jpg http://bigpicture.typepad.com/writing/simpsons_movie.jpg