The Simpsons Movie reaction: an extended episode that works

Our verdict on The Simpsons Movie (2007), with the voices of Dan Castellaneta and Hank Azaria, is simple: it was good, and we enjoyed it. To us it was "kind of like an extended Simpsons episode, which are always good anyway," only longer and with high stakes. The town is about to be blown up, so this isn't everyday Springfield business.

We wanted more of the pig and Bart's jealousy

Picking a single favorite part was tough because there's so much good comedy. One wish was for more of the pig storyline. The pig did Homer dirty and then left, and we felt the film needed more of the pig and of Bart's jealousy.

We liked the idea of Bart looking up to Flanders as a good dad. Flanders is a good dad, but he doesn't belong in The Simpsons, and that's what makes him lovable. He's so different from Homer as a father figure, goody-goody to a fault.

We didn't fully agree on Bart's side of it. There was a case that Bart is finally seeing how he wants to be treated as a son. There was also a case that he isn't, because Bart is a little daredevil who knows he has that with his dad.

The hot cocoa and fishing pole scenes made us laugh

The hot cocoa scene was a standout. Bart sulks on a tree limb and turns down Flanders' cocoa as something for weaklings. Then Flanders brings out a perfect cup with whipped cream and a cookie, and Bart caves. The storyline where Bart notices how good Flanders is with his kids, and wants that, was one we liked.

Another favorite is Bart dropping his fishing pole, going straight off muscle memory and ready for what comes next, while Flanders twitches.

The subtle sign gags are what we love about Simpsons humor

The Simpsons does subtle humor well, with jokes that flash by quickly. In Alaska, Moe's becomes Eskimo's. When Homer swings on the wrecking ball, he hits a rock and then a place called the Hard Place.

The show knows where to plug the humor and how to test the boundaries. In the discussion came an admission that inappropriate humor normally doesn't appeal, but some films do it right, and The Simpsons is the one where "I feel so ashamed for liking this." The pushback was that it doesn't even go that far: it mostly dances the line and crosses it a little.

Bart's naked skateboard scene and Maggie's sequel tease

Homer daring Bart to skateboard naked was great. Everything covers him up until the break in the hedges. "I really did not think they were going to show it." That humor was fantastic.

Maggie's first word, "Sequel?", left us unsure whether a sequel exists or whether it's a tease to get the crowd asking for one.