The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Starring Dan Castellaneta, Julia Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, Albert Brooks, etc.
Rated PG-13, 87 minutes

The movie opens with Green Day having a concert on Lake Springfield and trying to convey the plight of the environment. After the lake swallows them whole, we join the Simpsons at church where grandpa has a prophetic episode that Marge tries to decode. Meanwhile, Lisa meets Colin, a young musician interested in the environment. And Homer meets a pig he treats like a son, while Bart retreats to Flanders for a fatherly presence.

It all comes to a head, and Springfield is in trouble, and guess who’s there to save the day. This is basically a great episode of “The Simpsons” with movie characteristics. We mainly stay with the core cast, with the occasional guest here and there. It’s not as gimmicky and lame as the recent seasons have been – it’s mostly driven by Our Favorite Family and that’s nice. All the hype made me expect something that tried to cram in every character, but it felt very natural.

****½

Money well spent, which is all you can ask for. And for Pete’s sake – it’s the friggin “Simpsons Movie” – WHO ELSE but them would do crap during the credits? Applause to the dozen or so patrons who stayed in the theater with me to catch it. Although you’re free to leave after the Springfield Anthem.