Entertaining and satisfying for casual and die hard fans

Rating: 8/10 (29 July 2007)

"The Simpsons Movie" / Released: July 27, 2007 / Viewed: July 26, 2007
*** Good
I don't really consider myself a fan of The Simpsons, though I have seen the first season episodes on DVD. As this film shows, it's the writing that has made the film such a long running success. A total of 11 writers, including creator Matt Groening, contributed to the film. That's a very large number of writers for a film made in Hollywood, the most I've ever known. I'm guessing the idea was to try make the film have a broad appeal to as many Simpsons fans as possible. Now in it's 18th season, it's the longest running sitcom ever in the U.S. I viewed the film with my sister, who's a fan from when the show first began in 1990. She especially liked the opening and was overall pleased with the film.
Though I'm hardly an expert on "The Simpsons", this film wasn't much different than a typical TV episode of the show. Yes, there is a bigger, more dramatic story here and most of the many characters who have ever appeared on the TV show appear here. There are two firsts that occur, making the film a little unique from the TV show. Faithful to the TV show, the animation is hand drawn, except for a few CGI sequences.
The first 15 minutes of the film is impressive with its fast moving slapstick and parody. The film was made in a loose style that is characteristic of the TV show in it's early years. There is parody going on all throughout the film. At the beginning, Homer says: "I can't believe people would actually pay to see this as a movie when it can be watched for free on TV".
The plan, as announced one year ago, is that there would be one more final season after release of the first film. There has been nothing to contradict this as of yet.
The audience I was with was mostly adults, the typical Simpsons audience. Many of it's fans have watched it for 15+ years beginning as children or young adults. I saw the film on a preview screening, one day before it's official nationwide release. I guess that most of the audience were long time Simpsons fans. Most of the audience appeared to enjoy the film all the way through, from beginning to end. There are probably some who will feel a little disappointed as their favorite character did not appear or appeared for too short a time. However it would have weakened the film to try to appeal to all Simpsons fans. Here the aim was to appeal to casual and die hard fans, as much as possible. "The Simpsons Movie" succeeds in it's goals.