The MoFo Top 100 Animated Films - The Countdown

They nailed it.

Fans of The Simpsons have been hearing rumors of a movie based on the series since the mid-90s. But with each passing season the importance of doing the series justice grew, and the film spent the better part of a decade in development hell. After almost fifteen years of rumors and false starts, Matt Groening and ten other writers have produced a film worthy of the franchise.

The story -- which, as any Simpsons fan knows, is not especially important -- concerns the growing pollution in Lake Springfield. Homer pushes it past the point of no return with a silo full of pig excrement.

Enter the Environmental Protection Agency, whose funding has apparently quadrupled somewhere between the real world and the film's story. Their solution is to cover all of Springfield in a giant plastic dome. It goes without saying that the town quickly devolves into chaos, and that its inhabitants are none too happy with Homer.

Though plotlines on The Simpsons are never anything more than a framework for the jokes, the film's story holds together nicely. It is equal parts absurd and epic, and allows for a number of elegant cameos and references to the series' more memorable moments. It will make perfect sense to someone new to the universe, but still has plenty of visual easter eggs for the devout Simpsonsite to enjoy.

The voice acting is predictably brilliant, and the animation manages to look crisper and fuller than usual without losing any of its crude charm.

The most striking thing about The Simpsons Movie, however, is how edgy it is compared to the series. Freed from the constraints of network television, Groening and Co. use the bit of extra leeway that a PG-13 rating provides to push the envelope further than they have in years. Everything about the production oozes confidence. The jokes are more biting, and the satire is more fearless.

Fans can be forgiven for feeling that The Simpsons has dulled a bit over the last few seasons. When the show premiered, it was smarter and more irreverent than anything else on television. These days, the emergence of quasi-knockoffs such as Family Guy have diluted our sensitivities to crazed antics by placing a higher premium on edginess than comedy--they're all edge and no point.

The Simpsons Movie, however, walks that delicate line between absurdity and stupidity which has always been the hallmark of the franchise, and proves that there's still no replicating its unique brand of comedy.

As smart as it is ridiculous, The Simpsons Movie was a long time in the making, but well worth the wait. One of the best television shows in history has become one of the best comedies of 2007.