predictably a 90-minute "simpsons" episode

Rating: 7/10 (7 February 2008)

By the time of the release of "The Simpsons Movie" in 2007, the television show that bears its name had been on for nearly twenty seasons and had practically become its own institution. "The Simpsons" has become the gauge by which animated programs have become judged time and time again. To a point the show has also changed the complexity and number of situations available to the sit-com format, to say little of what it has shown to be the limitless nature of branding and mass marketing. It would nice to think that a big screen version of the show would again cause waves within the industry.
Instead "The Simpsons Movie" is merely a bigger (widescreen, et al), longer version of the show. Compared to the bulk of the output of the show during the mid-2000's the movie has far more to offer than the show, including superior animation. The main storyline presents a post-"Inconvenient Truth" environmental story whereby the town of Springfield is at the brink of being an environmental disaster. Of course, the obese, bumbler, Homer, tips them over the edge, causing the Environmental Protection Agency to enclose the town with a huge dome, which creates havoc and mob rule. It's a good, topical plot line for the frequently liberal-minded show and one that does sustain the running time, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to have the repeat value of many of the shows best episodes.