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After 18 years and more than 400 episodes broadcasted to the world, the writers of “The Simpsons” are still working their magic.
Fortunately for “Simpsons” mega-fans, re-hashing ongoing jokes, catch phrases and nods to past episodes are the norm for the show’s writers.
For the casual viewer, however, “The Simpsons Movie” may not offer enough laughs to justify the ticket price and they may equally enjoy an episode or two at home.
Compared to recent episodes, the movie is funny but does not compare to the novelty of the first five seasons.
The plot focuses on the Simpsons family trying to recover from Homer’s mistakes.
If this sounds familiar, it should — it is the premise for dozens of Simpsons episodes.
After Homer dumps pig waste into an already contaminated lake, the Environmental Protection Agency takes desperate measures and traps Springfield under a citywide dome.
To escape the angry Springfield mob coming after Homer, the family flees through a sinkhole.
For the rest of the film, the family copes with Homer’s blunders while learning important family values along the way.
The film also offers the show’s familiar satirical and biting political commentary.
With this in mind, it seems evident that the writers tried hard to keep true to the series, so much in fact that old jokes are constantly revisited in the film.
Naturally, Millhouse still loves Lisa, Homer furiously chokes Bart and Marge constantly voices her disappointment in Homer’s ineptitude.
The viewer can take this one of two ways — either accept the re-hashing of ideas as homage to past episodes, or consider the familiar themes as evidence that the writers have exhausted every creative possibility.
The writers took advantage of the creative freedom provided by the big screen, offering raised middle fingers and full-frontal nudity, but there is little to distinguish it from the series.
The movie even seems oddly conventional when compared to other animated films within the same genre, such as the “South Park Movie” or the “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” film.
Unlike other animated series that try to cash in on its excessive popularity, “The Simpsons” have waited almost two decades to release the film — and after popularity has waned.
Which leads viewers to question, is the show still popular enough to make big money?
Apparently so.
As of August 8, “The Simpsons Movie” has grossed $132,029,148 — a huge sum that trumped this year’s Harry Potter movie’s net ticket sales and a number of others.
Now fans can only hope that the writers saved a few fresh jokes for the upcoming seasons.
Otherwise, the movie may serve as a final farewell to a once-great series.
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