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July 27, 2007

Under the Peg - Never Saw This Coming

by Peg-Eye Nate

I should probably say at the outset that I'm not a big fan of the Simpsons. The characters that were always coming out on top were the characters I didn't really care about. With that in mind, I would never have guessed my reaction to the Simpsons Movie. I had a pretty good time watching it.

The TV show was-- more or less-- stupid people acting stupidly. It has been around for upwards of 15 years, so I guess they're doing something right, just not my cup of tea. In the movie, all that stupidity finally causes a blatant and horrific catastrophe, and the main character (Homer) must overcome his stupidity in order to fix it. The cast includes just about every character who has ever appeared in a Simpsons episode, although most make only token appearances, the exceptions being the main family (Homer, Madge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie), the next door neighbors (The Flanders) and the villian (Russ Cargill, voiced by Albert Brooks). The token characters only deliver one or two lines before fading away or dying painfully. The cast includes around 60 such characters, and manages it all with only 12 voice actors.

Since I don't watch the TV show, I probably missed more than a few in-jokes, but there were enough out-jokes to make up for it. Also worth mentioning, the story hinges on a fairly strict pro-environment message, but I can't decide if they're engaging in satire, or if they really believe it.

Overview: Worth seeing. Maybe even twice. Score: 8 Pegs of 10

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Nate,

Thanks for doing the movie and show reviews. I was worried about the new Die Hard but your review relieved my mind. Now, I might actually see the Simpsons movie (I never really watched the show).

The biggest problem with movies now is the increasing list of actors I don't enjoy watching anymore.

Keep up the great reviews!


Posted by: Minta Marie Morze at July 28, 2007 2:16 PM

With regard to the environmental message, I'm going with "satire." Though I know just enough about the creators to suspect they do believe in environmental stewardship, I think they're even more dedicated to the proposition that anyone uptight enough to wave a banner for a cause deserves to be soundly and thoroughly skewered in a satirical manner. (The fact that I happen to agree with this philosophy is a minor side point.) I think the two positions can coexist under the overarching theory that People Ought Not Take Themselves Or Their Causes Too Seriously. (Ferdy can explain this one in case there's any doubt about what I have in mind.)

Never much liked The Simpsons myself after the first season, though I have to admit the "Spider Pig" cut from the trailer made me snort soda up my nose. I still laugh when I see it, though logically I have no idea why I find it funny.


Posted by: The Random Yak at July 30, 2007 1:47 PM

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