Review of The Simpsons Movie

I went to see The Simpsons Movie today and entered the theatre with low expectations. Having stopped watching the show on TV around the end of season 10 due to diminished quality, I was sure that the film would exhibit the same lackluster, sub-par characteristics that drove me from the show so many years ago.

I was right.

I thought the film would be pretty bad, and, let's just say, it far exceeded those expectations. It was awful.

Back around season 9, the show I had once adored began to lose its luster. The razor-sharp wit and biting social commentaries began to recede, and by the end of season 10, only hackneyed sight gags and obligatory jabs at Homer's intelligence remained. I held on to my once-loved show through season 10, and caught episodes here and there through 11 and maybe even 12, but the former zeal with which I had once dedicated myself to the show was gone.

In the glory days of The Simpsons seasons 2 through 9 (or 10ish), every episode was special and memorable. Each line was great and instantly became part of The Simpsons fan vernacular. Guest appearances by celebrities were well-integrated into the show's plot and were included for specific, hilarious purpose. James Woods comes to mind as a particularly brilliant guest spot. The episodes were timeless, and did not have to depend on taking jabs and potshots at what was current and hip in order to get laughs. Anyway, as the show progressed, all the things I once loved were replaced by what I most loathed. Humor that appeals to the lowest common denominator. Not having watched the show for several years, I had forgotten much of what initially drove me from the show.

Today I was reminded.

The Simpsons Movie proved to be no more or less of the quality of any current episodes of the show. That is by no means a compliment. Much like current episodes of the show, any all all wit was replaced with overused sight gags, crude humor for the sole sake of crude humor, and the plotline was, as usual, nothing but ground that has already been covered by the show several times.

Indeed, if I hadn't already seen so many of the plot devices before, I might have been more invested in the film and more impressed by its execution. However, every conceivable element of the plot has already been done on the show, and was done a hell of a lot better the first time around.

Bart's disillusionment with his relationship with his father, Lisa's unheard and unanswered pleas to help the environment, Marge finally leaving Homer only to ultimately find her way back to him, the town being under threat of collapse, Homer screwing everything up for the sake of a doughnut, Krusty filming a commercial for his restaurant in which he takes a bit of the new sandwich only to spit it out after the director yells "cut!", Mr. Burns releasing the hounds on solicitors... Sound familiar? These scenarios and plot gags have all been included in episodes of The Simpsons and are all included in the film. Indeed, I didn't find one element of the film which in any way illuminated a new aspect of a character, a new scenario for the town to face, or a new facet of the show to be explored. Indeed, it seems every possible inch of ground to cover has been covered at least 4 or 5 times, dug up, sifted through, and rearranged in hopes that the audience won't notice that it's the same as ever.

I did laugh a couple of times. I'm not ashamed to admit that, although I am a little surprised. The film was sub-par at the very best, and a total disaster on average. The few lines that actually made me smile were no where near enough to save my views of this film. In fact, many of the times I laughed, I found that something had reminded me of a really great episode of The Simpsons and smile to myself this recognition. The smile would then turn to a kind of mourning for the show that I had lost. I had hoped to be pleasantly surprised by the film, but was instead unceremoniously affirmed in my negative suspcions.

I could go on and on with my disappointments with this film, but I think I will conclude this post with my disappointments in the audience who viewed this film with me. That Cletus the Slack-jawed yokel was featured in the film is only fitting given the level of humor that delights the masses. As I sat in the dark, hoping the pain would end, I was surrounded with the riotous laughter of those who apparently never noticed the decline in The Simpsons genius and are as pleased with the show now as they ever were. In fact, I dare say the masses probably love the show more than ever. Given that even the wittiest of humor the show now offers is something even the most culturally illiterate, crudest moron can appreciate, I assume this film was made to please and managed to suceed with flying colors.

I hardly know what else to say. This afternoon was truly depressing and rekindled a longing for the great days of The Simpsons, long since past. I think I'll go fire up the DVD player and have myself a marathon of seasons 3-8. I recommend all those who have and have not seen the film do the same. Those who have seen it can reminisce about the good old days, and those who haven't seen the film can save themselves some misery and $6-$10.