The Simpsons Movie

Scene one. Exterior, open road. We're guessing that the Simpsons are on their way to a remote mountain hotel. Homer has accepted a new job as caretaker for the winter. The last caretaker (Groundskeeper Willie) went crazy. And so far this all seems a bit similar to The Shining (which is itself a bit similar to the Simpsons episode Treehouse of Horror V). Still, at least the family looks happy ... for now. Photograph: PR

The first comedy interlude! The Simpsons stop off for lunch at a road-side eatery that has just failed a health inspection and is about to be demolished. Desperate to stock up on industrial vats of mayonnaise, moules mariniere and "malk", Homer stages a one man eco-protest against the wrecking ball. Much hilarity ensues. Photograph: PR

Moving swiftly on. The family have now reached the Shining-esque hotel and Homer and Bart have set to work. Cue some Hal Roach-style slapstick on the rooftops: the proximity of a thumb to a hammer surely means that there is a 'D'oh!' lurking somewhere in this scene. Then Bart falls off the guttering and lands on something. Probably Santa's Little Helper. Photograph: PR

No, wait. He lands on one of the strange, paganistic mountain dwellers who make camp near the hotel (and who also happen to look like the inhabitants of Springfield, though we'll ignore that for now). The mountain-folk go wild with rage and drum up a lynching party. Sheesh - a second ago we were larking about on a roof. Now the whole film has turned into Deliverance. Where's Moe? I can't see Moe. Photograph: PR

Yikes, where did those wolves come from? Fangy, Clawy and Bitey. The good news is that this obviously means Homer escaped from the lynch mob - almost certainly by eating a donut and snapping the rope. The bad news is that he is now being eaten himself. 'Stupid poetic justice!' Photograph: PR

Oops, what's going on now? Homer has somehow fled the lynch mob and shaken off the wolves. Now he's at home, suffering a crisis of faith. Presumably this is his big moment of Oscar glory: anguished and intense and almost overpowering. Just looking at him puts one in mind of Brando - that other great, balding, binge-eating American idol. Photograph: PR

Whoo-hoo, act three! Homer is off the couch and back in the saddle. With Bart riding shotgun, he proceeds to storm the encampment of the mountain-folk, or the wolves, or some dastardly combination of the two. This is where the movie really gets going again. It's probably the best bit since the bit with the wolves. Photograph: PR

The very last scene. So ... Homer has defeated the mountain-folk werewolves and managed to save Marge. But Bart and Lisa and Maggie have probably been killed in battle. But that's OK because Marge and Homer are smiling: they still have each other. This could be the end of An Officer and a Gentlemen ... or at least the bit of An Officer and a Gentlemen that they spoofed in episode 7G11 (Life in the Fast Lane). Now roll credits! Roll credits! And then watch it again just to make sure... Photograph: PR