The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Director:

David Silverman

Writers:

James L. Brooks (screenplay) &
Matt Groening (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

See our family. And feel better about yours.

Plot:

After Homer accidentally pollutes the town's water supply, Springfield is encased in a gigantic dome by the EPA and the Simpsons family are declared fugitives.

Plot Keywords:

Pig | Silo | Lake | Dome | The Simpsons

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer / Itchy / Barney / Grampa / Stage Manager / Krusty the Clown / Mayor Quimby / Mayor's Aide / Multi-Eyed Squirrel / Panicky Man / Sideshow Mel / Mr. Teeny / EPA Official / Kissing Cop / Bear / Boy on Phone / NSA Worker / Officer / Santa's Little Helper / Squeaky-Voiced Teen (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Selma / Patty (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart / Maggie / Ralph / Nelson / Todd Flanders / TV Daughter / Woman on Phone (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Scratchy / Mr. Burns / Rev. Lovejoy / Ned Flanders / Lenny / Skull / President Arnold Schwarzenegger / Kent Brockman / Principal Skinner / Dr. Hibbert / Smithers / Toll Booth Man / Guard / Otto / Kang (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Professor Frink / Comic Book Guy / Moe / Chief Wiggum / Lou / Carl / Cletus / Bumblebee Man / Male EPA Worker / Dome Depot Announcer / Kissing Cop / Carnival Barker / Counter Man / Apu / Drederick Tatum / Sea Captain / EPA Passenger / Robot / Dr. Nick (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Mrs. Krabappel (voice) (credit only)
Billie Joe Armstrong	...	Green Day (voice)
Tre Cool	...	Green Day (voice) (as Frank Edwin Wright III)
Mike Dirnt	...	Green Day (voice) (as Michael Pritchard)
Tress MacNeille	...	Sweet Old Lady / Colin / Mrs. Skinner / Nelson's Mother / Pig / Cat Lady / Female EPA Worker / G.P.S. Woman / Cookie Kwan / Lindsey Naegle / TV Son / Medicine Woman / Girl on Phone (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse / Rod Flanders (voice)
Joe Mantegna	...	Fat Tony (voice)
Albert Brooks	...	Russ Cargill (voice) (as A. Brooks)
Russi Taylor	...	Martin (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for irreverent humor throughout.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Argentina:Atp | Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Finland:K-7 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:PG | Germany:6 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:7 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Norway:7 | Denmark:7 | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Africa:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43622) | France:U | Chile:TE | South Korea:12 | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U (cut) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Peru:PT | Japan:U

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Release prints were delivered to theaters with the fake title "Yellow Harvest". This was also used as a fake working title. It references "Blue Harvest", the fake working title of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene when Homer returns to the hotel room, as the screen pans from left to right, Maggie's eyes are noticeably dropped from eye to nose level.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Scratchy: [having just landed on the Moon] We come in peace for cats and mice everywhere.
[Itchy impales and beats Scratchy with flag pole]

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Cinderella (1950)

Soundtrack:

Nearer, My God, To Thee

Funny, just not 'Simpsons' funny

I began watching this film (as I'm sure everyone who owns a television set did) with optimistically high expectations. The end product being what all fans' pessimistic side feared. This was a watered down version of the Simpsons, reliant on the steadfast fan base it has rightfully built up over the years. This film was a disappointment. Perhaps though, no more of a disappointment than the last couple of seasons of the television show, with a few notable exceptions.

What made The Simpsons great was the charade of face value humour, perfectly complimenting the blissfully bloated underbelly of well developed, meaningful and satirical jokes. This film was sorely lacking anything but the most basic of jokes. Non-stop visual and slapstick gags... although great, in moderation, after eighty-seven minutes of them - I was left wondering if the film's script would have had to have been modified in any way whatsoever if the characters were substituted for that of, say, 'Spongebob Squarepants'. The obvious exception of course being the underwater setting.

This film lacked all of the Simpsons' distinction that we have all come to love over the years. The Simpsons movie is not even worthy of a 'Krusty Brand Seal of Approval' for authenticity.

The Simpsons have left many fans conflicted over the past couple of years. Feeling a sense of loyalty and reliance to the show, yet always expecting it to sink further and further as far as well thought out story lines and dialogue go.

This movie is a further indication that with the Simpsons, from here until their cancellation or retirement, there will always be a sense of frustratingly oxymoronic anticipated disappointment.