the simpsons movie

I took Ryan and his girlfriend to see The Simpsons movie earlier this week.

Mini review: It did not disappoint. If you've watched The Simpsons as long as I have, this may make sense:  it was like an above average episode from season seven.

Slightly longer review: While not as subversive and non-linear as the early seasons that I love so much, it was significantly better than any of the absolute garbage they've thrown at us in the last couple of seasons. The story is a bit convoluted, but they committed to the convolution so willingly and unabashedly, they actually made it work. They totally take advantage of being a movie to pull off some stuff they'd never get away with on television, which was incredibly amusing to me. I won't say anything more specific about the plot or point out any of the gags, because a big part of the fun was sitting back and enjoying the story while it unfolded. You probably don't need to see this in a theater, unless you really want to, because . . .

Drawback to seeing it in the theater: People watch The Simpsons on TV so much, they must think they're still in their living room when they are, in fact, in a theater we all paid money to get into. Memo to audiences: Shut. The. Fuck. Up. You don't need to repeat every funny line or point out every single sight gag. We saw it, too, because we are sitting in the same theater with you.

Final Rating: I give it 3 out of 5 squishees.

Comments

[mirkrim]

"no he can't... he's a pig..."

[Michael Beaty]

Unfortunately, thus is the case with any movie you go see these days. People just don't respect others around them. My Simpsons experience was almost ruined by some kid (1 of 11 in a group) using my chair as a foot rest. Thankfully, there were enough seats for me to move to an equally suitable viewing position... I get there early enough to get the best seats, but the downfall is that afterwards, you have no control over who sits around you.

I think I'm going to find a way to buy those "this seat out of order" bags to cover a 6-seat radius around me.

I'm with you on the 3 squishees and I really enjoyed the movie, but it would be just as good at home, I think.

[tjp]

I hat egoing to movies anymore. People are such ASSTARDS, with no concern for others. All they care about is themselves.
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Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties
as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4051

[ben c]

Wil,

I had the same thought here in KY after watching The Simpsons movie--people thought they were at home, and wouldn't stop talking. I can't believe how many people felt the need to read the sign gags out loud. People tromped all over laugh lines by repeating the one prior. I was wondering if it would happen other places.

I mean, they were reading the signs. Like old people on road trips. It was terrible.

[claire]

Thanks, that's my kind of review. I do my best to avoid the ones overrun with plot synopses. They drive me nuts!

Yours had just what I wanted to know.

[starshine_diva]

Ok, it was awesome!!! It was just like a super long TV-version of the Simpsons... and with more real world gags.
Best part is, I saw it at lunch. On break. At my internship. Paid by the company.
Woo-hoo!

[Soo]

Unfortunately, the noise at the cinema is not just confined to this particular movie. People will not stop yakking for anything. Took my kids and some friends to the Imax to see HP5 and I counted 6 cell phones before my head exploded.

There is no such thing as a silent movie anymore. Such a pity. This is why it takes a really big movie to get me into the theater anymore. Most of the time, I wait until the DVD is out.

[Meg]

I laughed when I saw your Simpsons avatar. I did one, too. How can we have a bad day when we're yellow and have four fingers? "More please!"

[Alan]

I give it 3 out of 5 squishees.

What an amazing coincidence because I've drank 3 out of 4 squishees at the local Quik-E-Mart in Seattle.

[halflite]

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up."

Best. Comment. Ever.
;-)

[vbacon]

I tried to see 1408 in the theater and it was a bust b/c of obnoxious kids. One kid had their smart phone with the huge bright screen on talking on aim the whole time (seriously what 16 year old needs a smart phone). I left half way through and got my money back. The cop at the theater went to yell at the kids. I'm only 26 but i feel so damn old.

[angie k]

Spider. Pig.

The Alamo Drafthouse (in Austin) had a Simpsons Feast and also had a special menu for the movie. Mmmm... Duff beer, Ribwiches, Double Krusty Burgers, Squishees and donuts... It made the movie very enjoyable.

Thank goodness we didn't have any talkative folks in our theatre. I'm sorry you got the talkers. :(

[dealer]

We actually saw this last night and had a similar experience/review. One of my friends described it as "good, but it wont blow you away", which sums it up perfectly.

There was one person who laughed obnoxiously loud at EVERYTHING. I mean jokes that are designed to only get a chuckle, we're talking full on guffaws. Easily the one person who got the most out of their $8.

This shouldn't be much of a spoiler because it's in the trailer, but no less than half the theater actually said "oh a rock and a hard place" during that part. I wanted to stab myself in the crotch.

[R]

Hmm...I'd been hesitant about seeing the movie given that I simply can't stand to watch recent episodes, but your review is making me rethink that.

And I like your avatar :) Here's mine.

[Andrew Engroff]

Someone beat me to commenting about the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin. Duff beer was pretty good stuff. I think the fact that Alamo has good and amusing STFU notices before the movies (and actually follow through if you complain), combined with everyone stuffing their faces with good and reasonable priced food, makes for a quiet theater. Other theaters should take heed on the price thing, if nothing else.

[ProudTexasWoman]

Those of you who can, but haven't, might want to try going to the movies before the prices change. I've done it since I was a child, and although it does cut down a bit on the feeling of "it's so cool that we're all experiencing this together!", there's a lot to be said for going at a less popular hour. After all, once the lights go down, you're as much in a darkened theater as if it were nighttime.

[kidcharles]

Hehe, I had the same experience regarding the play-by-play commentary by audience members. In my case it was a 7-year-old kid, so I cut him a little slack, but it was still obnoxiously annoying.

[Cassie]

An esteemed movie reviewer here in Oz was a complete Simpson's virgin, has *never* seen an episode of the TV show!

Gave it 4 squishees so there ya are .... he didn't comment on audience "participation" other than people enjoying it, guess we antipodeans are a bit more civil .... but your reviews might get me out to our local theatre to bean bag and pizza when it arrives here in the far flung wilds of regional NSW.

[MrSaxon]

To be honest, I sort of gave up on the TV series several seasons back. But the hype surrounding the movie makes me interested in checking it out.