'Simpsons' delivers in a big way

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE — *** 1/2 — Animated feature starring the voices of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and others; rated PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, nudity, brief drugs).

"The Simpsons Movie" is exactly what its title promises — a feature-length cartoon that's based on the popular, long-running television series.

In terms of some technical aspects, such as animation quality, it's not exactly state of the art. And it is a lengthier version of a concept that could work very well in the 30-minute format.

Still, this is the one summer movie so far this year that really delivers in a big way. It's got bigger and better action than other bloated blockbusters, and it has bigger and better laughs that any of its comedic competition. In addition, there is also a surprising amount of heart and emotion.

However, be warned that it's also considerably naughtier than the TV version. The Simpsons creators do some things here that they couldn't get away with on the small screen.

The show's creators, James L. Brooks and Matt Groening, helped write this comedy-adventure, in which the entire community of Springfield has been endangered by Homer's selfishness and laziness.

Homer dumps waste into an already polluted Lake Springfield, and an overzealous EPA official, Russ Cargill (voiced by Albert Brooks), uses extreme measures to prevent the toxicity from spreading. His crews have even placed a huge dome over Springfield, effectively sealing it off from the rest of the country.

As a result, the Simpsons' fellow Springfieldians are ready to lynch Homer (Dan Castellaneta), who manages to whisk his family away to safety outside the dome. Homer is ready to start a new life in Alaska but his more sensible spouse Marge (Julie Kavner) wants to return to help the others.

With nearly an hour more to fill than the show's television format, the filmmakers spoof other films (both live-action and animated), take shots at Fox Television and the Walt Disney Company, and keep the jokes flying at a fast-and-furious pace.

But it's not all fun and games. There's a heady environmental message, as well as a redemptive pro-family message. The often-strained, father-son dynamic between Homer and Bart (Nancy Cartwright) is explored, as is a possible romance for the conscientious Lisa (Yeardley Smith).

And, as always, the multitalented voice cast sounds like they're having a blast, as do guest performers Brooks, Tom Hanks and Green Day (which performs Danny Elfman's theme music).

It's also worth sitting through the closing credits for three brief comic bits, one of them a song spoof.

"The Simpsons Movie" is rated PG-13 for crude sexual and scatological humor (references and sight gags), and some suggestive language, animated violence (vehicular and explosive mayhem, slapstick and other comic violence), scattered profanity, animated nudity, and some brief drug content (toxic chemicals and knock-out gas). Running time: 87 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com