The Simpsons - A Hammer in the Eye of, Doh!

For me, this movie was like a reunion. I have been almost totally Simpson free for about five years, due to circumstances beyond my control, so I probably would have liked this movie no matter what. That being said, I though it was great. Was it better than the TV show? Well, I would have to say that that is not the question to ask. Does it live up to the high expectations of Simpsonologist (the quasi-psycho-socio-politico society of fans)?

Absolutely!

Besides being the most dysfunctional functional family in American TV history, the Simpson's creator Matt Groenig manages to mix humor, family relationships and societal concerns into the mix of almost every plot. Plus the fact that there is something for fans of all ages. I disagree that the Simpsons is adult only and think that it is one of the few surviving members of the cartoon class that still has some relevance for all generations. After all most parents want to have a Lisa, but may have wound up with a Bart, this show helps both sides, parent and child, find ways to deal (if you can get around the neck choking stuff).

Since most reviews have talked about how funny and heartwarming the movie is (and it really, really is!) I want to focus on some of the subtext here:

First, let's talk about President Schwarzenegger. You know we all want that! After all Ronald Regan did the same thing and the American public ate it up. We may have some amendment adjusting to do to get it done, but that is nothing new.

Second, it didn't dawn on me until almost the end of the movie when Albert Brooks' character, the head of the EPA. comes on the big dome screen and say how putting the whole town in this big dome was probably a bad idea and sort of apologizes. But then says, so now we are going to kill you all. If you replace EPA with FEMA, you should see what I mean. Trapped in a big dome, people suffering? Didn't the government try to wipe out those people in the Dome in New Orleans as well? Maybe not with a bomb, but with disregard and deception. Even in this movie they wipe Springfield off the map, literally. And after blowing it up they want to call the crater that is left a better attraction than that old Grand Canyon ever was. Maybe it's just me seeing conspiracies afoot, but isn't the new New Orleans getting the same makeover press?

Anyway - OK ,OK

Just a note on the animation. I stayed to the end of the credits (you will be rewarded if you do) and lost count of the animators after 200. The animation was quite spectacular and it did remind me, especially in crowd scenes and scenes with amazing movement, of a lot of Japanese Anime. And low and behold, half of the animators are from the Japanese arm of Rough Cut, the animation studio.

Glass is always and impressive sight in a cartoon when done well, and there is a scene where Homer and Bart are on a Motorcycle that is going around and around the inside of the glass dome surrounding the town, working their way toward the top. I won't say why, but is really amazing to watch.

So, conspiracy theories aside, through humor and complete non-sense, the Simpsons' Movie delivers many, many laughs and stirs our hearts with a family that really love each other and can come to terms with almost any situation.

Learn more about this author, D. James.
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