THE SIMPSONS MOVIE

US, 2007, 87 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria, Marcia Wallace, Pamela Hayden, Joe Mantegna, Albert Brooks, Tom Hanks.
Directed by David Silverman.

The Simpsons Movie is very funny.

For twenty years, the Simpsons have entertained television audiences with their madcap lives but, even more tellingly, with their spoof comments on human nature, social issues and political stances. In fact, The Simpsons has created an industry but also a niche in intelligent discussion of the media. Some contestants on Mastermind take The Simpsons as their topic and can identify incidents from episode to episode. Many Christians have written articles and books on how effective The Simpsons has been in offering a contemporary way of dealing with important values.

Not that Homer and his family are exemplars of righteous living. Often, Homer is far from this. But, the series has been written as an appeal to basic values that audiences believe in which becomes a means for our responding to the family’s behaviour.

Homer himself is usually the cause of the problems with his obtuse selfishness, his immediate gratification and his inability to think things through let alone foresee consequences. Yet, sometimes, but especially here in the movie, he is the one who has to come to his senses and rectify the situation and save his family and the people of Springfield. He is both an irritating slob and a lovable human being who shows more than his fair share of human foibles.

Marge, on the other hand, with her high-rise blue hair, is normally the sensible one. Bart is mischievous but is always looking for some fatherly interest and care. Lisa is serious and the baby is a bit of a chameleon, gooey eyes one minute and mini-martial arts the next.

After twenty years, the producers have responded to popular demand for a feature film – and fans will not be disappointed.

The series has always delighted in witty screenplays and this one is full of clever lines. Even baby Maggie’s first word at the end of the film is – ‘sequel’!

Actual characters have always been a target for some send-ups and here we have glimpses of Hilary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger as president (‘elected to lead, not read’) and Tom Hanks wandering about, serious-minded.

Sight gags abound. The Simpsons Movie is strong on visual wit.

Then there are the messages. Basically, the plot is a recognition that global warming is a human responsibility. Homer is selfish and careless in disposing of waste and causes Springfield to be quarantined by a huge and impenetrable dome. He escapes but his conscience gets the better of him and he returns to try to make things right again.

There is also the theme of parenting and families. Homer is no example to Bart who finds his neighbour Flanders a better father to him – but he has to learn (as does Homer) what family bonds can be.

In many ways these messages are mini-sermons (though Homer is not very good when he attends Church and misses out on messages there). But, they are packaged in humour and irony, with many references to contemporary politicians and discussions, which means that we are laughing at the bad behaviour while we know what good behaviour ought to be. We ‘get’ the message.

At the session I attended, young children were laughing out loud at the characters and situations. Adults were laughing at the spoofs and satire. The Simpsons can communicate with everyone.

1.The popularity of The Simpsons for twenty years? Three hundred and ninety-seven episodes? A product of the 80s? Their survival through the 90s – despite the disapproval of George Bush Sr? Into the 21st century? Worldwide appeal? The nature of the appeal? The Simpsons as cult figures?

2.The visual style, the animation style, the design of the characters, the voices, action? The layouts and background? The musical themes? The score?

3.Springfield, life in Springfield, the families, Flanders, Mr Burns, the church, the police? The shops, food? Flanders and the relationship with the Simpsons?

4.The impact of a full-length feature, the strengths from the television series, plot, characters, gags, crises, messages?

5.The opening, Itchy and Scratchy, going to the moon, the clash on the moon, Itchy becoming president, Hillary Clinton in the background at his inauguration? His jealousy, setting off the nuclear warheads? Homer standing up in the cinema, attacking people for paying for what they could see at home for nothing and turning to the audience and saying, “You”? Ads for Fox Television during the film, the caption “To be continued – immediately”? The credits and the appreciation? The final song? The baby’s final word, “Sequel”? The final joke with the assistant manager sweeping up after the final credits and lamenting about going to film school?

6.Springfield, life at the Simpsons’ home, the contrast with Flanders and his being nice to his sons? The church, people praying, the minister, the Simpsons being late, the silhouettes, Homer attacking church people, everybody looking at them enter? The minister and his asking people for opinion and their crouching down? Grandpa, his turn, charismatic, speaking in tongues? Homer and his looking through the Bible for solutions? Marge and her concern, her interpretation of Grandpa’s words?

7.The relationship between Homer and Bart, on the roof, rivalry, the hammer in Homer’s eye, the various dares, Bart skateboarding naked through the town? His being covered – and then exposed? The police taking him, his father coming, denying knowledge to avoid jail? Meeting with Flanders and his boys in the restaurant? Homer and his seeing the pig, the commercial with the pig, the sponsor spitting out the food, wanting the pig killed, Homer bringing it home? Its twisted tail and Marge’s interpretation? Homer and his affection for the pig, its walking on the roof, trot-marks and singing the Spider Pig song? Watching the TV with the pig, the kiss? Marge and her anxiety? Bart watching his father friendly with the pig and not himself? Talking with Flanders, Flanders offering the chocolate drink? Bart and his going fishing with Flanders, losing the reel, but not being hit – and the flashbacks to Homer and his electrifying the water and getting all the fish, the electric shock as he ate the fish?

8.The concert, the songs, the message about the environment, the parody of Al Gore’s film? The people not wanting to listen to the message, attacking the musicians, the corrosion of the stage, sinking? The funeral for the singers? Lisa and her going from door to door, everybody slamming the door? Milhouse and his attraction to Lisa, Colin, his Irish brogue, U2 – and Lisa falling in love?

9.The pig and the waste, the huge container? Homer and his taking it to the lake? The discussions about the lake pollution, putting up the barriers, the simpleton and his not being able to put anything in the lake? Homer driving through all the notices, crashing through the fence? Putting the container in the lake, the contamination, the multi-eyed monster? Flanders and Bart on the mountain, the sudden appearance of the monster? The EPA authorities taking it?

10.Cargill (and Albert Brooks’ voice)? His finance, concerns, going to President Schwarzenegger (and the jokes about leading not reading and the various choices)? The plan, the engineering of the dome, flying it and placing it over Springfield? Cargill on the big screen, his explanation? The people discovering that Homer was to blame? Watching TV – and the vigilante group? The fire, the attempt to escape, carrying the car, the nooses? The pig and the plank and pushing it away? Taking refuge in the treehouse? The sinkhole – and the baby going through it earlier, everybody escaping, Homer too fat but able finally to escape?

11.Alaska, the dream, the poster, the crashing of the car, the reality of Alaska? Bart and his clash with his father? Marge and the decision to go? The cycle competition, Homer going round the circle, his getting the truck, the drive to Alaska? The thousand dollars entry fee? Happy, the sexual encounter and all the characters from Bambi coming into the house? The discovery of the truth, their leaving? The family going to Seattle? Cargill and his taking them back to Springfield?

12.Homer in the woods, the bear, on the iceberg floe and the broken heart? The meeting with the Inuit shaman, the mystical experience, the epiphany, his return? His climbing the dome, the rope and coming down into Springfield?

13.The background of life in Springfield, the steady deterioration, the reaction of the people, the blackouts, stealing everything from the bar, becoming desperate?

14.Homer and his return, his feet with the cycle, Bart and his antagonism towards his father, Flanders’ support? The success, throwing the bomb out of the dome? The happy ending? And people welcoming Homer back?

15.Cargill, his comeuppance, the plan with Schwarzenegger? The gun, confronting Homer, the baby and the rock? The finale with Bart and his father on the roof, the dares?

16.The focus on the dysfunctional family, yet the bonds, the exploration of family values? The film utilising the environmental and ecological message?