"I'll teach you to laugh at something that's funny!" -Homer Simpson

The long awaited Simpsons Movie (David Silverman, 2007) is here at last. It is always risky making a movie from a popular TV show, and making a feature length film of the Simpsons, a TV show that has been going for nearly two decades, won many Emmy awards for outstanding animated program and become a household name, was always going to be a challenge. To even match some of the wit and satirical humor of the popular TV series and capture it into a feature length film was an ambitious project, however, the large group of writers working on the film have succeeded in producing an entertaining and comical feature, which feels like an extended episode of the beloved TV series. Some of the best laughs have been saved for the movie, however doesn’t return to the original humor of the earlier episodes.


For many hundred episodes the Simpsons have impacted our lives and had an influence on most of society. Many have grown up around “Aye carumba” and “eat my shorts”. As always the Simpsons Movie delivers a believable yet hilarious and exaggerated depiction of the American family satirising recent events and ridiculing anyone and everyone.

The movie follows one main storyline with not many subplots being more like a movie plot, however still follows a structure similar to the TV series such as using a resolved circular plot, giving the impression of a long TV episode.

The Simpsons Movie comments on many issues, similar to the way the TV series does. Issues of protecting environment, corruption in government, families, communities and religion are touched on in a traditional Simpson comical way. The importance of love and family is a strong message throughout the film with Homer (Dan Castellaneta) realising this importance and what really matters in life through a few heart touching scenes between Homer and his family. Homer is clearly the star of the show with this realisation and some of the best lines coming from him, however it may be too focused on Homer. Several favourite characters from the TV series aren’t featured much or at all, however many are given hilarious one-liners which connect with their character from the series. The voices of the regulars are, like always, superb with a few cameos thrown in as usual.


Seeing the Simpsons in wide-screen format is an experience. The animation is of higher quality than the TV series. The rendering of the scenes is magnificent with a wider colour palette being used giving the backgrounds, in particular, a new appearance outstanding from the TV series. The elements of 3D also give it admiration and the shadows on the characters giving more depth.

A must see film for Simpson fans, animation fans and anyone looking for a good laugh.