A pleasant surprise for this fan of 20 years.

Rating: 8/10 (30 July 2007)

When "The Simpsons Movie" was announced, it raised my interest, even though I had pretty much given up on the weekly show, which should have retired with the 20th century. The trailers I saw did not appeal to me at all. Still, I decided that I would give the film a try, IF it got decent reviews from fans and/or critics. A few hours into the weekend, I convinced myself to go, with no expectations, and hoped that it wouldn't be a total wreck of a film. Boy was I surprised.
"The Simpsons Movie" is a funny, smart, and endearing flick that left me with a sense of giddy satisfaction that I haven't felt since the show's heyday in the 90's. It revolves around a fairly simple story(that gets increasingly elaborate,) held together by perfect characterizations and lots of humor.
There's something about seeing a comedy on the big screen that makes it so much more fun. "Simpsons" offers a diverse comical dish that includes broad slapstick, satire, irony, social commentary and good old fashioned madcap cartoon shenanigans. The jokes work more often than not, and there's enough humor to evoke steady laughs and smiles. Even the gags that seemed overly silly in the trailer (I'm thinking specifically of the Rock and a Hard Place sequence) worked well in front of a diverse audience of hundreds. (In retrospect, I wonder if the rock/hard place gag was not meant to be more of a isolated set piece rather than literal action that takes place in "real time." Hmm...) The film takes some risks , including a few sight gags and jokes that would not make into Fox's prime time lineup, but it also seems strangely...sterilized at times. Suicide jokes, middle fingers and animated "doodles" aside, I was still left with the feeling that the creators held back in some ways, more than they would have even on the small screen. Something about the film seems edited, even incomplete in some spots. On the other hand, I'm glad they didn't go too far. As crude as it can be at times, The Simpsons franchise has always maintained a certain level of class and good nature. Shows like South Park and Family Guy would not exist without "The Simpsons," yet their brand of comedy does not suit Matt Groening's classic.
The most surprising aspect of "The Simpsons Movie" is its genuine heart, an element that has been missing from the series for nearly a decade. There are some truly sweet moments in the film, and the script, along with fine animation and excellent voice work, helps to create some interesting character nuances that I don't think I've ever seen before. For the first time since I was a child, I actually cared about what happened to the Simpson clan and the citizens of Springfield. Bart and Lisa were real, believable kids, without losing their distinct edge. Maggie was used well for comic relief. Marge was perhaps the most well-developed character in the film. But I was most impressed with the handling of Homer. Throughout the history of the series, Homer has gone from temperamental disciplinarian, to passive but disgruntled father, to lazy but lovable oaf, to irrational idiot, to town whipping boy and finally to, well, to complete a**hole. All of these elements are present in the film, but they are slowly stripped away, and for a few fleeting moments, the audience is able to see a real person, flawed but kind-hearted, and ready to accept responsibility. Will this "new" Homer last? Only time(or a sequel) will tell. Remember, this is the same guy who survived death and disaster on many occasions throughout the series, and made many a vow of change, only to revert immediately(and comically) back to his old ways.
The animation is excellent, and its heartening to see a return to hand drawn work, even with the incorporation of some CGI. The combination of styles works nicely to produce a few cool visual sequences.
The soundtrack consists of a pleasant incidental score and a rock version of the main theme, performed by Green Day. Perhaps the most memorable piece of music is the use of Marge and Homer's "theme" (the Carpenters' "Close to You.") Overall, it's a bit sparse musically, but as with the boundary-pushing gags, less may be better than too much. Still, I wouldn't have minded the town of Springfield breaking into spontaneous song, at least once.
Its rare that I can say this about a modern film, but at 87 minutes, I felt that "Simpsons" was too short! An extra 20 minutes or so would have allowed for further plot development , and some of the issues left up in the air as the credits rolled could have been better resolved.
"The Simpson Movie" has something for every type of fan, and even something for non fans. If I were to compare the film to the progression of the series, I'd say the humor is of late-90's-era quality (a little broader and zanier than "classic" Simpsons humor , but still solid and clever.) The story and direction, however, remind me of something from the earliest season(s) of the show, with steady pacing, blatant morality, and character-driven plot. This movie is not for very young children (I wouldn't take any kid under 11 or so.) If you don't like or cannot appreciate subverted and "irreverent" humor, this may not be the film for you. But if you've ever enjoyed the the Simpsons family, you will enjoy "The Simpsons Movie."