Article By: James O'Ehley - Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:00

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Why pay to see something you can see on TV for free?

Well, for starters, 'The Simpsons' is no longer showing on South African TV now that they have shut down M-Net Open Time. 'The Simpsons Movie' sadly illustrates that, yes, we are missing out a lot. It's left a rather gaping hole in our cultural lives because the series has always been more than just Bart dissing authority figures. It is one of the cleverest social satires on contemporary consumer culture ever, plus it has some great burping gags?

Although it can be legitimately asked whether ? 18 years and 400 episodes later ? the show is still as funny and fresh as it used to be. Of course not, but it?s still pretty darn funny, more of a laugh than most of the sitcoms doing the rounds nowadays. And the same goes for 'The Simpsons Movie': it hands down beats most of the so-called Hollywood ?comedies? out there.

Cynics would be right though when they claim that plot-wise there isn?t anything in the film we haven?t seen before in any of the countless episodes. Homer and Marge having marital difficulties and almost splitting up? Check. Lisa falling in love? Check. Bart angry at Homer for being such a deadbeat dad? Check. The movie plays like a ?greatest hits? of Simpsons plot conventions and ideas, but while a ?greatest hits? compilation may not contain anything you haven't heard before, it doesn?t mean you can't enjoy it. The same goes for 'The Simpsons Movie'.

There are some great gags and physical humour. One ?hiding the genitals? sequence a la Austin Powers featuring a nude Bart on a skateboard has an unexpected payoff for instance. And although the movie isn?t as politically subversive as some of the older episodes were, 'The Simpsons Movie' still gets in a few of its trademark satiric barbs along the way.

The plot involves the Simpsons? town of Springfield being enclosed under a protective plastic dome by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for being the most polluting town in the 'States after Homer dumps some pig excrement in the local lake. Like most good 'Simpsons' episodes, the movie realises that the real star of the series is Homer and not Bart. It might as well have been called 'The Homer Simpson Movie' instead.

To ensure punters feel that they?re getting value for their money the traditional 2-D animation is more detailed and richer than your average TV episode and mixes in some 3-D computer-generated sequences as well. There is a guest appearance by punk rock band Green Day too. Voice talent is spot on as always, even though it is a pity that they couldn?t coax ?President? Arnold Schwarzenegger into doing his own voice.

Ultimately, there are some laugh-out loud moments and loads of chuckles to be had. That you won?t cry from laughing as you did with some of the best 'Simpsons' episodes of the show?s early days is to be expected.

Yes, it?s worth forking out the price of an admission ticket? even if you could see it on TV for free. Which you can?t.

(Note: it is worth sitting through all the end title credits. Don?t just rush out of the cinema. Contrary to popular myth the movie doesn?t herald the end of the series which is still going strong in the 'States.)