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How Not To Enjoy the Simpsons Movie
Aug. 5th, 2007 08:56 pmI saw the Simpsons Movie today and thought the reviewers are being far, far too kind.
Now, I know my faithful readers are probably asking themselves -- how can I also make the 80 minutes I spent watching the film seem boring and pointless?
1. Well, first you can go assuming that it will be funny -- as funny as a good or at least okay episode of the Simpsons TV series. Getting your hopes up to even a level of mediocrity is a right step on the path to non-enjoyment.
2. Go expecting that some of the most enjoyable Simpsons characters such as Apu, Mr. Burns, Smithers and Principal Skinner will get more than cameo appearances. A lot of great characters are under-used here.
3. See two of the great all-time masterpieces of film - The Kid and City Lights the day before, and have your artistic world rocked. Not only does the Simpsons movie not stack up against a good TV episode, it amazingly falls short of truly great cinema.
4. Spend the hours before the film watching rare outtakes of Chaplin's early shorts. You'd see Chaplin throwing out hours and hours of prime comedy in a quest to always make it funnier, more poignant, just plain better. When you see an artistic genius neurotically demanding the absolute best from himself and those around him ... well, most films would pale in comparison. And watching a film that is merely the flotsam and jetsam of the worst TV seasons? The Simpsons didn't stand a chance.
So, there's my handy guide for how to lose friends and influence no one.
On the other hand, I got to see The Kid and City Lights on a big screen -- so, I'm pretty happy.
Allen
Now, I know my faithful readers are probably asking themselves -- how can I also make the 80 minutes I spent watching the film seem boring and pointless?
1. Well, first you can go assuming that it will be funny -- as funny as a good or at least okay episode of the Simpsons TV series. Getting your hopes up to even a level of mediocrity is a right step on the path to non-enjoyment.
2. Go expecting that some of the most enjoyable Simpsons characters such as Apu, Mr. Burns, Smithers and Principal Skinner will get more than cameo appearances. A lot of great characters are under-used here.
3. See two of the great all-time masterpieces of film - The Kid and City Lights the day before, and have your artistic world rocked. Not only does the Simpsons movie not stack up against a good TV episode, it amazingly falls short of truly great cinema.
4. Spend the hours before the film watching rare outtakes of Chaplin's early shorts. You'd see Chaplin throwing out hours and hours of prime comedy in a quest to always make it funnier, more poignant, just plain better. When you see an artistic genius neurotically demanding the absolute best from himself and those around him ... well, most films would pale in comparison. And watching a film that is merely the flotsam and jetsam of the worst TV seasons? The Simpsons didn't stand a chance.
So, there's my handy guide for how to lose friends and influence no one.
On the other hand, I got to see The Kid and City Lights on a big screen -- so, I'm pretty happy.
Allen
