The Simpsons Movie
By Geoff HoppeAug 1, 2007 - 1:07
Title: The Simpsons Movie
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Pamela Hayden
Directed By: David Silverman
Produced By: Hyejoon Yun, David Mirkin, James L. Brooks
Genre: Comedy, Animation and Adaptation
Release Date: July 27th, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for irreverent humor throughout.
Distributors: 20th Century Fox
Like the inevitable roll of Sisyphus’ boulder, it was only a matter of time before they made The Simpsons Movie.
In The Simpsons Movie, Homer’s careless polluting condemns
The Simpsons is, for
I mention the show because the movie is basically one long episode. The structure and conflict are similar to any given episode, though the writers take advantage of the film medium to make tv-unfriendly jokes. Bart goes nude, Homer gives
The Simpsons Movie shares it’s lone redeeming quality with the tv show. The Simpsons’ writers have always been fond of cartoon sight gags, and they’re remarkably good at them. The times I actually laugh at the Simpsons are instances like Homer’s head getting stuck in a bridge, or Grandpa’s teeth being stolen by a turtle. There’s a painfully funny moment in the movie that involves (of course) damage to Homer’s skull. It also involves a sinkhole, bows and arrows, and a lot of clawing. Groening and the rest of the crew clearly love cartoons, and when they try to write a cartoon show, instead of a “significant” yet halfhearted satire, they shine. Too bad that’s rarely the case.
What I can never get is why critics find The Simpsons intelligent. Everyone from Tom Shales to my freshman Sociology T.A. honestly believed The Simpsons was “incisive social commentary,” “cutting-edge satire,” and other such clichés. I’ve never found that to be the case. The world of The Simpsons is, as has been frequently noted, nihilistic. People are generally stupid, parents are often distant, and most efforts are hopeless. It’s very hard to write a truly good nihilistic satire. This is because nihilism is a blunt ideology, and satire is anything but blunt. Satire requires a fine balance of absurdity, contempt, and hope. The contrasting cocktail of cynicism, hate and despair (The Simpsons’ usual fare) may produce the laughter of existential collapse—but not the humor and wit of satire. Satire needs the focus of a microscope and the precision of a surgeon, and blanket jokes about the futility of life possess neither.
The Simpsons’ humor is so blunt and predictable (cops are fat, politicians are dishonest, retarded kids say the darndest things) that it isn’t so much titillating as it is reassuring. It’s a weekly belge of normative assertions, comforting us that, yes, cynicism is the only way to go. It’s television-as-alka-seltzer.
But maybe it’s all in good fun? Maybe I’m being too hard on a group of fun, funny guys n’ gals who just want to make
At one point, Bart made a quip about Homer’s “fat ass.” A nine-year-old four rows behind me giggled cherubically as a haggard man chased a big rock towards the exit.
Last Updated: Feb 5, 2012 - 22:31
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loved it..............
spider pig, spider pig
does whatever a spider pig does
can he swing from a web?
no he cant he is a pig
look out he is a spider pig
now he is harry plopper
