Enough already!

Rating: 3/10 (18 July 2011)

Well it was inevitable wasn't it? The Simpsons hasn't been relevant, sharp or consistently funny for several years now. It was perhaps a false dawn but the return of the 'old' writing team promised a upturn in form. A homecoming of sorts to relive the glory days of one of the modern comic greats.
Only the truth is that despite its 'promise' The Simpsons Movie falls short on a number of counts. The major point being laughs. There just aren't enough of them. Also there isn't that element of surprise anymore and it seems as though the writing team knows this. They have used up all their jokes and rehashed and then repeated throughout the 17 some odd years of The Simpsons. Rather than catch us off guard with the razor sharp wit that is sorely lacking we get shock humour that is best left to South Park and Family Guy- Bart's penis anyone? I recall letting out two solid laughs (man being crushed by dome-Ralph Wiggum's 'i like men now'). The only time I was caught off guard being the appearance of Bart's todger. The rest of the duration I managed to titter intermittently and sterile gags which we've heard before (Chief Wiggum nearly blowing his head off with his gun for whatever elementary reason-doughnuts).
'Minor' characters, Mr Burns, Sideshow Bob, Frink, Comic Book Guy etc etc weren't always integral to plots but they made the show buzz, gave it a freshness. The film centre's too much on the family and result is a drab story which goes no particular place quickly (Alaska okay, I'm talking figuratively here). How many times have the Simpson family become disillusioned with each other only to realise just how much they mean to each other? Please. The global warming slant is a feeble attempt to be relevant which falls flat.
It's a sad case, ultimately. I'd like to think that Groening and friends might put The Simpsons out of their misery but there's clearly been no narrative closure so we can expect more. Just one thought. If I'd been watching this 'movie' on TV,I would have switched channels.