The Simpsons Movie
Watson the Fourth and I have been irregular patrons of Simpsons over the course of its eighteen years in business. From our early days, when we made it a point to stop channel-strolling there once a week for a regular treat, to our later lives, when it was saved for a holiday treat at Halloween or a comedic repast at the end of a particularly difficult case. With such a history, we could hardly pass up a cinematic banquet held for that fine old establishment, and this weekend we found ourselves among the crowds seeing “The Simpsons Movie.”
It is often said that the film industry is just recycling these days, drawing too many times from the lumber-room of old TV shows for their ideas. In this case, with a still-popular franchise, one would hope for more of a crown jewel to top its graying head, a special moment for creators and viewers alike. And, for once, that expectation does not bring any disappointment. Regular patrons of the Simpsons will find everything they love here. Odd hermit-like folk who’ve never heard of the Simpsons can step in and get a true taste of the Simpsons experience. Can they top all of the highest pinnacles of funny from eighteen years of effort? They come very close, if not. Is this hour-and-a-half version better than any single, or even any three single episodes from decades of shows? Could be.
“The Simpsons Movie” is faithful and true, with big cinematic moments, lines and tunes that will stick in your head, guest stars and all the trimmings. Oddly, it’s so faithful and true that ten years from now it will probably just merge in one’s memory with all of the other non-cinema episodes. But that’s not a bad thing at all.
What Great-grandfather Sherlock would have said:
“Ah, here is Simpson to report.”
(Well, he could have mentioned St. Bart's.)
Past Investigations
An Introduction to
Mr. Sherlock Holmes IV
Fantastic Four:
Rise of the Silver Surfer