Simpsons Movie, The
Entry updated 16 October 2023. Tagged: Film.
US animated movie (2007). Gracie Films, 20th Century Fox Animation. Based on the tv series The Simpsons (1989-current), created by Matt Groening. Directed by David Silverman. Written by James L Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Ian Maxtone-Graham, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Mike Scully, Matt Selman, John Swartzwelder and Jon Vitti. Voice cast includes Hank Azaria, Albert Brooks, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer and Yeardley Smith. 87 minutes. Colour.
In church, Homer Simpson's (Castellaneta) father, Abe (Castellaneta), seemingly inspired by God (see Religion), prophecies "horrible, horrible things are going to happen, twisted tale, a thousand eyes, trapped forever, EPA, EPA ..." (see Disaster), but only Homer's wife Marge (Kavner) takes it seriously. Meanwhile, his daughter Lisa (Smith) is concerned by the fast-rising levels of Pollution in Lake Springfield and manages to get a "no dumping" ordinance passed. Unfortunately Homer has become enamoured of a pig (with a twisty tail) whose production of faecal matter is prodigious, so – ignoring the new law – he dumps a silo of its waste in the lake. The polluting effect is immediate: a squirrel which falls in grows many eyes (see Mutants). The new head of the national Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Russ Cargill (Brooks) ("I'm a rich man who wanted to give something back", clarifying "not the money"), becomes concerned and persuades President Arnold Schwarzenegger (Shearer) (see Alternate History) to take drastic measures: a giant transparent dome is lowered over the town of Springfield, which lies to the east of Shelbyville.
Scientist Professor Frink (Azaria) announces his recent Invention, a "superdrill that can cut through anything" ... then realizes it is parked just outside the dome. From a screen built into the dome Cargill explains Springfield has been sealed off to prevent its poisons spreading, as it is "the most polluted city in the history of the planet"; when Lisa argues they have stopped dumping in the lake, he points out that this is not true. The populace discover Homer is responsible, so march on his house intending to kill the family; but they escape the dome through a sinkhole and journey to Alaska to start a new life.
Attacks on the dome by Springfield's inhabitants cause cracks: Cargill warns if people escape it will lead to hearings and investigations: something must be done. So the Government announces "A new Grand Canyon" in an empty area "east of Shelbyville". The Simpsons, realizing Springfield is to be destroyed, leave Alaska to warn the residents; except for Homer, who still resents the town's treatment of him. However, now deeply depressed, he is treated by an Inuit shaman, leading to a surreal epiphany (probably Drug-induced, though a later vision also suggests Magic) – and realizes he must help Springfield. Because the Government monitors all conversations (see Paranoia) – including the use of Android railway guards – Marge and the kids are caught and returned to the town, discovering a Post-Holocaust society is evolving: bar owner Moe (Azaria), traffic cone on head, has declared himself Emperor of Springfield.
Cargill now announces a bomb is being lowered into the dome, to explode in 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Homer has used glue found in an army supply hut to climb the dome – ignoring a clearly labelled jet pack (see Flying) – then enters by sliding down the cable holding the bomb ... knocking off the would-be escapees climbing up. However he redeems himself by riding around the inside of the dome on a motor bike with his son Bart (Cartwright) carrying the bomb, which is thrown out of the hole it was lowered through, to shatter the dome. Maggie (Cartwright) drops a rock on Cargill's head and all ends happily.
In the early 2000s Homer's television personality had shifted from being well-meaning, if unthinking and selfish, to what some fans labelled "jerkass Homer", where he is actively mean-spirited. This is the case here until his epiphany; it causes Bart to view kindly neighbour Ned Flanders (Shearer) as a surrogate father, which seems a little out of character, whilst Lisa is sidelined with a pointless romance. Marge is given the most convincing emotional arch, after much soul-searching leaving Homer to return to Springfield. As occasionally hinted in the Television series, Maggie displays Intelligence beyond her years. If some of the characterization is a little shaky, the Humour is much stronger: there is also Satire and an environmental message (see Ecology). Though not up to the level of the series' heyday, overall this is a very funny, entertaining film. [SP]
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