The Simpsons Movie (2007)

TV’s longest-running animated series gets a big-screen adaptation in this film, which is a few years old now, but still packs a pretty good comedic punch.

After Homer makes a massive error in judgment (no surprise to anyone who has seen even just a single episode of The Simpsons), the town of Springfield is declared the most polluted city in the history of the world by head of the EPA, Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks). As a safeguard, the town is enclosed under a massive impenetrable dome, and erased from all maps and satellite imagery.

When word gets out among the townspeople that Homer is to blame for their isolation, the entire town turns on the family, forcing them to go on the run (after they miraculously escape from the dome, of course).

Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (Julie Kavner).

The entire family moves to Alaska of all places, where they try to make a new life for themselves.

But when things become even worse back in Springfield, forcing Cargill to step up his plan to the next level - destroying Springfield altogether - the family must put aside their differences and return to Springfield to save both their home and the people they love.

The screenplay - written by several members of the writing team for the TV series: James L. Brooks & Matt Groening & Al Jean & Ian Maxtone-Graham & George Meyer & David Mirkin & Mike Reiss & Mike Scully & Matt Selman & John Swartzwelder & Jon Vitti - is clever enough, at least in the way it remains true to the spirit of the show. However, as a film, it falls a little short. The film is essentially three Simpsons episodes back-to-back, and the structure seems quite disjointed, particularly at the thirty- and sixty-minute points.

Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) and Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer).

The quality of the animation, however, far exceeds that of the TV show. Rather than being drawn purely by hand - as the show was and is - the film has been animated on computers, allowing for shots and scenes that could not have been possible with hand-drawn animation. Also, the lip-synching is greatly improved with the use of computers, making this film feel just a little more realistic than the show has been or could ever be.

The voice cast are the same as on the TV series, again giving the film continuity to the series. And in this film, they are all truly in their element. There is a real camaraderie between the cast, which is clear in how the performances come across. Unlike most animated films, where actors record their own lines in isolation from their co-stars, these voices were almost certainly recorded together in one studio, as is the case with the TV series, giving extra realism to every moment, allowing cast members to play off each other’s performances.

Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks).

Hans Zimmer’s score is fantastic, which shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with his work. There is even a leitmotif used for any scenes with Lisa in them, and each time it is heard, it is ever so slightly different, be it in instrumentation, tempo, rhythm, etc. Of course, the original theme is by Danny Elfman, but Zimmer has clearly made this score his own.

Director David Silverman has made a relatively enjoyable film here, one that is certainly required viewing for fans of the television series. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out. You will certainly find something you can enjoy in its ninety-minute running time.

7 out of 10.