The Simpson's Movie: See it on the Big Screen - It's Worth It!

I just saw The Simpson's Movie, and, like most people, I loved it. I loved it for what it is and for what it's not. What it is is an episode of The Simpson's on a grander scale, but not grand as in unrecognizable to its true followers and admirers.

I have been a Simpson's fan since it first appeared on the new FOX network back in 1989. The show quickly became a pop culture phenomenon, with controversy erupting within schools nationwide from children wearing shirts featuring Bart Simpson and proclaiming the wearer an "Underachiever" or a recommendation to overreacting adults to "Don't have a cow, man!" Since FOX was a new network, it wasn't available everywhere. Friends that I had left behind in my old hometown of Byron, Georgia (and many other places) didn't have access to FOX or The Simpson's for a few years.

Critics of The Simpson family cite the dysfunctionality of the clan as a negative influence on the all-American family. With Homer's alcoholism and his seemingly apathetic attitude towards his children and, much of the time, his wife as well. Marge is a doting mother, though much of the time oblivious to the mischief that her children are getting themselves into, and is a blatant enabler to Homer's alcoholism, his propensity to stuff himself, and his lazy attitude. Bart is the classic underachiever, constantly causing trouble and getting himself into difficult situations. Lisa is quite the opposite of Bart. She is an overachiever, one who strives to be the best at everything. She is a musician, straight-A student, spelling bee champion, environmentalist, vegetarian, and the list goes on and on. Lisa is this way because she is hiding deep insecurities related to her upbringing. Maggie is the baby of the family, never speaking more than a word here or there, but seems to be the smartest character in the family. She is often ignored and sometimes lost, especially if she is in the care of her father or grandfather.

Fast forward nearly 18 years and nothing has changed. Well, almost nothing. Though the fictional city of Springfield changes with the times and is always introducing current pop culture into its story lines, members of the town never age. Only a couple of characters have died (and stayed dead) including Maude Flanders, wife of Ned and neighbor of the Simpsons and, Lisa's hero and mentor, Bleeding Gums Murphy. Bart is still a ten-year-old hellion and Lisa is an eight-year-old genius.

The movie was set up much like the television show. Homer causes problems, Bart is frustrated with his father's insolence, Lisa is trying to save the world (starting with Springfield), Marge tries to manage the family but ends up being largely ignored, and Maggie's wunderkind insight gets the family out of some tight situations.

In two instances in the movie, however, Marge made some decisions that were very much out of character for her. First, she left Homer. Now, she's done this before, but usually it was something like "I'll come home when.." and she would leave and go to her sisters' house. But this time, she was determined that it was permanent and she taped a farewell message over hers and Homer's wedding video to show that she meant it. Even in divorce, I can't imagine Marge parting with her wedding video. In another incident, right at the end, Marge uses the expletive "goddamn." That is so out of character for the spiritual leader of the Simpson household that I still can't even process the fact that she said it. Sure, it was during a tense, climactic situation where lives were at stake. Even still, if Marge had said "freakin" or something of that nature, it would be much more realistic to her character.

Overall, I highly recommend The Simpson's Movie to all fans and admirers of The Simpson's television show. Go see it on the big screen before it's too late. Watching it on TV will feel much like you're watching another weekly episode, not the big-screen work of art that it is.