The show that defined a generation comes to the big screen.

Rating: 9/10 (4 September 2007)

The above phrase in the title of my review ("defined a generation") is thrown around a lot about pieces of entertainment, but rarely is it so appropriate as it is in the case of "The Simpsons", the animated program that debuted in 1989, and is now approaching its 20th season on television, with over 400 episodes released. To today's ten-year-olds, the show has always been around, and is generally regarded as a charming piece of comfort-food; to people of my age, who were young when it first came out, we remember when parents believed that the show was Public Enemy Number One, and disallowed us from watching it (but that didn't stop us). Bart, once "America's bad boy", is now a cultural icon, and a fairly harmless one compared to the likes of Eric Cartman of "South Park." The controversy has long since worn off, and, after 13 seasons (in my estimation) of brilliance, the show is looking a bit tired these days, but it can still knock them out of the park occasionally.
And now they come to the big screen. This has been the dream of many a fan and screenwriter for many years, and it arrives a bit past the point where it might have been most anticipated; fortunately, this doesn't affect the quality, although it is important to moderate expectations when approaching it. "The Simpsons" is the greatest television program of all time, bar none; "The Simpsons Movie" is not one of the greatest films of all time, by any means, and it doesn't come close. In part, this is because the show has already dealt with so many of the things a movie might have done; as well, a movie simply cannot capture the diversity of story and humour that can be found in the over 400 episodes currently released. However, it is a very funny movie, well worth one's money.
The basic plot has been done many times before (Homer screws up, compromising his family and his town, and must grow up just enough to fix it), but it doesn't feel stretched out for film, and the animation is modified quite well for the big screen, seeming more epic while at the same time retaining the classic look of the show. And, despite the many times that Homer and Marge's marriage has foundered on the show, the big scene in this film where Marge believes (once again) that it's really over is truly excellent; it's a knockout bit of voice-acting from Julie Kavner.