The Simpsons: past its best?
There's a feeling that The Simpsons Movie has come too late, with the show's writing already past its best. The quaint storylines with heart have gone, replaced by bizarre, disjointed plots (Principal Skinner as Armin Tamzarian in season nine, anyone?), and the characters, if such a thing were possible, have become caricatures of themselves. If they can't make a coherent plot lasting 20 minutes, how will they fill 90? Indeed, the new trailer, which you can view here, is little more than a collection of gags.
Maybe all the best storylines have already been done. There have been 400 episodes, after all. But if I could have my pick of episodes and turn it into a million dollar movie, it would have to be El Viaje Misterioso De Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage Of Homer) from season eight.
Marge and Homer's falling out could have been expanded as the film's exposition, and the surreal journey of Homer's redemption would have been rendered as an exquisite hallucination, with the ensuing comedown explored in more depth. I wasn't entirely sold on that rather abrupt ending with the lighthouse, and a feature-length version where Marge isn't so willing to capitulate would provide some pathos. I only wish Johnny Cash could reprise his role.
