just great

Rating: 9/10 (29 July 2007)

For years, there had been speculation as to whether or not there would be a big screen version of the longest running animated show. Well, now it's, and I gotta say that I really like "The Simpsons Movie". With just the right balance of gags and plot line, they keep the whole thing going.
The story has Lisa exposing - via a presentation called "An Irritating Truth" - that Lake Springfield's pollution levels will reach catastrophic levels unless the people take serious action immediately. While the city bans dumping, Homer tosses his pet pig's crap into the lake - he was taking the crap to the treatment facility, but had to get to Lard Lad Donuts for a free donut - turning Springfield into the most polluted city in the country. So, EPA head Russ Cargill (voice of Albert Brooks) gets Pres. Schwarzenegger to agree to put a giant glass dome over Springfield to prevent it from polluting the rest of the country (while also removing Springfield from all maps). Sure enough, news soon comes out that Homer is responsible for the city's misfortune, and the family has to flee through a sinkhole. Now comes the question of how Homer is going to deal with the mess that he's created.
Pretty much every major character from throughout the show's history appears in at least one scene. Along the way, there are some great lines ("Why are we watching something in the theater that we could watch for free on TV?"). The subplots involve Lisa's crush on Irish immigrant boy Colin, and Bart viewing Ned Flanders as a father figure, while Marge and Maggie also do their usual stuff.
Yes, maybe it is a little late for the movie to arrive, but I still assert that they did a near perfect job. Really funny. And just remember what Tom Hanks said in his guest appearance.