the simpsons movie

i blame david stratton from the movie show on abc tv
in his review of this film he admitted he was a simpsons virgin having never seen it on tv
but actually admitting to quite liking the long-form version and giving it 4 stars
i haven't seen the tv show for many, many years and so with his and other reviews i decided to take a look
besides the alternative was sicko and i actually decided some light entertainment was in order for this sunday evening
so ignoring my urge to resist contributing to the murdoch world domination fund
i unashamedly bought my ticket and took up pole position in the relatively empty theatre
it's a very clever opening scene with the family watching a movie and homer berating the audience
for being mugs for watching something on the big screen that can be seen in the comfort of your own home on tv
it seems the style of humour has not changed since i last watched the show with any conviction
green day are introduced very early on as themselves performing at an environmental concert for springfield
there's a clever reference to the titanic film and an unsubtle dig at the lack of concern for the actual cause
at these awareness-raising concerts
live earth 07.07.07 immediately springs to mind - we're here to rock not to be lectured to don't you know
president swarchenegger and various government departments get a bit of a jabbing
as do the draconian laws now in place to monitor, eavesdrop and dob in a suspect
i was expecting to see and/or hear a continual stream of celebrities
taking the opportunity to use this film as a vehicle to provide some debate or comment on various issues
but they didn't show - apart from green day in performance and a complacent tom hanks
it has always struck me as odd that such a supposedly subversive show is owned by the very kind of institution that it rails against
my lack of time spent watching the show on tv probably meaning i had not understood
that in fact it does not do that at all but instead actually is a proud supporter of the american way
you know dad is a tv-watching, beer-swilling, wife-manipulating, child-misunderstanding layabout
and mum is the one who honours her wedding pledges and stands by her man through thick and well, thick
there's one moment in the film when she gives advice to her daughter
remember lisa you're a woman, you can keep quiet for the whole of your life
there were some funny moments but i must admit i wasn't really lapping it up
in fact for the first time in a long time i actually seriously considered walking
but decided i needed to lighten up and take it at face value and have a laugh or 2
so stuck at it through to the end with a similar scene set in a picture theatre
where baby maggie supposedly utters her first word - sequel
don't think i'll be up for it somehow