The Simpsons

rawfa

rawfa

Veteran
Ok, so yesterday I went to the watch the Simpsons and I was relieved that the movie theater was crowded with adults...witch mean that I was not the only long time hardcore Simpsons fan in the house. Being a huge Simpsons fan and having watched the Simpsons since they were invented and not ever having missed a single episode I may say that even though it's not as funny as the best Simpsons episodes (around the forth and fifth season, when Conan O'Brien was still a writer/producer), it's still funnier than most comedies on theaters right now (which may not sound like it but IT IS a big deal). I would rate it like as a large pretty funny Simpsons episode.
 
i was very surprised that the film had a genuinely emotional moment. the episodes always kinda tried for one once in a while, but there was a part (with the video tape) that had me a lil chokey. overall a good movie.
 
this was an awesome movie. hopefully they take the energy from the movie and put it back into the tv show to make it good again
 
The movie started out great, but then got progressively worse. The show is way better. The problem with the movie is that they follow classic hero's journey structure which has just been used way, way, way too many times. Every movie is exactly the same on a structural level. Why are they making the same movie over and over again? It worked the first fifty thousand times. It doesn't work anymore. We've seen it too many times. Even the almighty and untouchable structure can become a cliche'. And it has.

Joesph Campbell was not the only genius to ever live. Aristotle is not the only authority on how to write a story. I know, Hollywood follows the same structure over and over again because it "works", right? Wrong. It doesn't work anymore. They've beat it to death.

Time for a change.

The Simpsons could have been a lot funnier if it didn't have to adhere to Hollywood structure.

The melodramatic dark moment, the screwup makes good, the same old tired violins -- it's time to move on. What's wrong with using a flute? Or an oboe? Or some percussion?

Who's got the balls to use an oboe?
Who's got the balls to reinvent structure?
Who's got the balls to be original?

Geniuses are born every day, not just in Aristotle's day.
 
Structure shouldn't be transparent - Perhaps its not the structure you have an issue with, but transparent writing.

(damn, this got awfully serious for a 'Simpsons' thread)

I saw the movie tonight - can't say I have any complaints.
It was true to the show and it made me laugh for 87 minutes.
I had a good time.

I wasn't exactly expecting 'The Simpson's Movie' to be the thing to change the face of story structure though.
 
You "have" to accept each movie for what it is even before you step into the movie theater. You can't step into "american pie" expecting it'll be the next "Ran". Think about what the main market is for each type of movie. Hollywood didn't start today. They know what works for different audiences. But I do agree, with you Phil Maker, basically there are 4 or 5 variations of the same story being made out there, and they are all becoming more and more predictable everyday. I don't remember when was the last time I've watched a movie where I could not foreseen what was going to happen next in most scenes.
Now, think about the Simpsons in a very basic way and say "What was the purpose of this movie?" Was it to make me laugh? Did it make me laugh? If it did, then mission accomplished.
 
It made me laugh in the beginning, but then the serious tone began to overshadow the jokes and the second half became a melodramatic cliche'. This is because of the structure of the movie. Nothing else. It would have been funnier if it had no story at all and was just a ton of random jokes. Jokes on top of jokes on top of jokes. More Mr. Smithers and less structure could have made it a much better movie.
 
Phil Maker, you make some very interesting points.

I saw The Simpsons Movie just last night myself.

Although I agree with you one hundred percent that the traditional 'hero arc' is so over-done in Hollywood as to be almost meaningless, I actually felt it worked quite effectively in The Simpsons Movie.

The thing about The Simpsons is it's a TV show. You could argue that, on a structural level, EVERY episode of The Simpsons follows this traditional arc to some degree. A character is placed in a certain situation, there is conflict or a problem, then resolution. The writers themselves often poke fun at this convention themselves, consider for example the episode in which Apu loses his job at the Quick-E-Mart: after the 'Who Needs the Quick-E-Mart?' song it appears that Apu has accepted the loss of his job, and therefore achieved resolution. We see the Simpsons family on the couch musing that everything has been sorted out, "much earlier than usual."

The Simpsons very much observes some major conventions, but what they do IN ADDITION to observing conventions is what makes it so special. You could argue, for example, that the show has lasted 18 years due to it's ability to adapt and provide a witty and engaging commentary on current social trends. On another level, the characters themselves are very engaging, and the 'hero arc' is merely a device for exploring their character.

Personally I highly enjoyed [PLOT SPOILER WARNING] Homer's alienating the entire town and eventually returning to save it, achieving redemption. Over the 90 odd minutes we were able to go into far greater depth exploring the extent of Homer's selfishness and stupidity and how it affects those around him, particularly his family; in a way which would be simply too shallow and meaningless in a standard 22 minute episode. Moreover, this structure, albeit a hackneyed cliche, provides the backbone for a satire on the relationship between the American government and it's citizens (EPA as an analogy for FEMA, the Dome --> response to Hurrican Katrina etc.). Although the film's protagonist and target of hostility is quite clearly Homer, the American government proves to be a far greater threat to people's freedom and safety!

I saw the film last night with some friends, and a few of them expressed the opinion that Bart comes across as 'a bit wussy,' but I disagreed. I think the film, whilst still very funny, balanced the humour out with much more real human drama than the TV episodes ever could. To see Bart reacting to his father's selfishness in a real human way..... and Marge's video message....... for me these things really brought the characters to life.

Lastly, as others have pointed out in this discussion already, the film is aimed specifically at 'the masses'. It's unashamedly a blockbuster; cinemaplex fodder. The merits of this is a topic for a whole separate discussion, and I won't enter into it here. However, I think the creators of the film have essentially done exactly what they've been doing for 18 years on television: providing biting social commentary wrapped in light-hearted entertainment. The entertainment side can be seen as a sort of 'trojan horse' allowing the social commentary to make it's way into people's homes via the Fox network. Now I don't want to be misinterpreted here: I'm not trying to invalidate the light, funny side to the Simpsons as merely in service to a greater goal. What I'm saying is they're two sides which complement each other and balance out The Simpsons. Sort of a yin/yang relationship.

Hope that all makes sense. A great movie, a great topic for discussion.
 
Evan S said:
I can see this topic going political....
Click to expand...

Well that's certainly not my intention.

I was merely trying to explain IMO the richness of the film going beyond the simple hero arc structure.

To discuss the actual political messages within the film, which I touched on only very briefly, I think warrants a separate thread.
 
Not that I don't agree. I think you brought to light great points. (so serious for the simpsons)
I personally was disappointed. I much would have rather of seen Homer run for president or something... but uh. I don't know. I thought the blatant enviro-crap was to much and over took the movie for me.
 
Just saw this today. Very disappointed. Mediocre story, unfocused, constrained. Full of fan service, but not much "juice".
 
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