The Simpsons Movie

A review in five minutes or less:

The Simpsons Movie, oh great apprehensive wonder that it is, gets several things very, very right: it's true to its characters, edgy in its content (at least, relatively so for a show so established in its mores), and careful with its plot: the "Homer does stupid thing and then has to fix it" premise may seem threadbare, but the writing is clever and allows reasonable complicating actions to stretch the concept out without pushing it too far into dangerous territory. That is, of course, the most common pitfall for screen adaptations of TV shows, sitcom sketches (any SNL movie?) and, ever increasingly, Dr. Seuss stories (the "Horton Hears a Who" movie gets a preview plug before this one). However, Matt Groening and company keep The Simpsons Movie at a brisk tempo, and by the time Homer saves the day, you find yourself wondering if the movie could possibly be over already - which is a refreshingly pleasant feeling for a movie these days. The Simpsons Movie is also surprisingly funny, moreso than most television episodes of the show, and clever enough to appease "old school" fans who might feel the series has dropped off in the last, oh, I don't know, ten years.

Nonetheless, I didn't leave the theater exactly satisfied. I laughed, sure, and I enjoyed connecting with the characters in an environment that allowed them to be themselves more, free of the constricting time and rating issues that go along with a spot on primetime television, but I couldn't help feeling like the movie was more of a "Bart Goes to Australia" episode, where the joy is in the absurd and clever nature of the gimmick, than a "And Maggie Makes Three," where the show's real magic comes through in the way it makes us feel (and feel deeply) for its characters. The truth of the matter is, The Simpsons is and has always been at its best when its stories are small, when they connect with real, American life. In these moments, the show's cleverness isn't a hipster merit badge, it's a way to strike a comedic balance with moments of genuine empathy. In episodes that take interpersonal character development for granted, the cleverness still shines through, but in a way that feels detached and, ultimately, disposable, and it shouldn't surprise us that so many of the series' weaker episodes can be traced back to such an approach. With The Simpsons Movie, we get a little of both worlds: some scenes do go for the emotional jugular, but even in teary moments between principal characters, you still just can't shake the feeling that it's all play-acting - and the sly winks the movie slips in every two or three scenes to pop culture, the current political climate, environmental issues, movies and (as always) the Simpson's' network, Fox, make it hard to believe the movie wants you to feel any different.

So, to close this thing out: The Simpsons Movie delivers characters we know and love doing genuinely funny things in an extreme situation, but in writing a script that required such hyperbolic "stakes" in its adventure narrative, The Simpsons Movie ultimately suffers from its detachment from the "every day family" relatability that has always anchored the series. Should you see it? If you're a fan of the show, definitely - it's not only geek-out and in-joke heaven, it's genuinely fun - and if you're new to the series (seriously?), it's still a nice ride. Is it as good as it could be? No, but it IS as good as it SHOULD be, and that's something to feel pretty nice about.

You want a grade? I say 3 out of 4 donuts.

What are your thoughts?