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So, it’s finally here. Amidst a huge storm of hype and excitement, the Simpsons finally hit the big screen in all their yellowy goodness. So why should we pay money to go see them at the cinema when we can watch them on TV for free? Because it’s the Simpsons………in a movie………why the hell not?!

So I gathered in line on the second day of its release among a massive gaggle of eager followers, waiting excitedly for the usher to swing open the theatre doors and send us flooding into one of the most anticipated movie events of the year. I was already laughing by the time the Twentieth Century Fox intro appeared, and I didn’t stop until the end.

I don’t know how Groening and Brooks have kept up the humor over the entire 18 seasons of the show’s existence, but they have. The movie is no different; the classic Simpsons brand of comedy is well and truly alive and kicking up on the big screen. You’ve got to love it when a hugely anticipated film like this one actually lives up to the hype surrounding it. Quite often a book/TV show conversion to feature film is a bit of a let down (Miami Vice I’m looking in your direction), but no- The Simpsons Movie well and truly delivers.

So what’s the plot, you may be wondering. Well without giving too much away, the film centers on a major environmental issue affecting Springfield, with numerous other side stories for each of the main characters. Homer gets a pet pig, Lisa finds the boy of her dreams, and Bart becomes close to the Flanders. In a very Simpsons-like manner, the film takes humorous little stabs at several things along the way- the US Government being an easy target. The Simpsons Movie is like an extended episode of the show on TV. The director David Silverman has not gone overboard or tried anything tricky, simply delivering everything we love about the show, on a larger screen. The characters are all there- from the crazy cat lady to our favorite hick, Cledis, with several new ones tossed into the mix- Tom Hanks, Green Day, and Homer’s “spider-pig” to name a few. It is the subtle little details which really make this film; it is full of random little sequences that will have you rolling in the aisles. Also the film never strays far from its television origin, with a surprise intermission and advertisement mid-film.

The movie contains plenty of pivotal scenes you wouldn’t want to miss out on- from Maggie’s first word to Bart skateboarding naked through the streets- and yes, you see his little yellow thing while he’s doing it. There is also a death of a well-known character. Stay for the credits, they are as funny as the film itself.

It goes without saying that if you are a fan of The Simpsons you should definitely go watch this film, but even if you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past few decades and have no idea who they are (yeah right), I still highly recommend you see this. It is a fantastic film that will definitely go down as one of the best of the year. You will not stop laughing so I suggest you take along a change of pants, because things might get a little wet down below.