A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Simpson's Movie

Date Viewed: 8/24/07

Details:

Voice talent: Dan Castellaneta

Julie Kavner

Nancy Cartwright

Yeardley Smith

Harry Shearer

Hank Azaria

Guest voices: Joe Mantegna

Albert Brooks

Tom Hanks

Director: David Silverman

Score: 0

The Review: Silly -- existentially silly. For you shall hear of the adventures of Spider-Pig.

Matt Groening's iconic cartoon satire hits the big screen. Starting with Grandpa's inevitably-accurate epileptic vision, misinterpreted as speaking in tongues, continuing through the isolation of Springfield as a major toxic waste site, winding through Alaska and the mysteries of an Inuit wise-woman, and ending (in the credits) with Maggie’s first word -- "Sequel" -- this elongated episode is just as wacky, disconnected, and full of non-sequitors as ever. There are laughs, but to my ears, many were forced. If you like The Simpson's and watch the TV show, you'll like this; if not, then it will probably be puzzling and uninterpretable. Certainly the physics is suspect.

The score was cool, though -- Danny Elfman channeled through Hans Zimmer, and worth the price of admission.

The credits had more surprises than Maggie -- the animation seems to have involved much of the population of Korea. I had no concept that its execution was out-sourced.

(23-Sep-07)

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