SimpsonsMovie Tagged Articles at Cinematical

One of the scenes in Forgetting Sarah Marshall that people will be talking about over the virtual water cooler next week is the one that involves Jason Segel doing full frontal nudity. Yes, he lets it all hang out, and what's admirable is that he does it purely for the sake of a joke. That takes courage! That takes guts! That takes ... well, you know.

This isn't the first film to use nudity for laughs, of course. Comical naughty bits have a rich history in Hollywood. Here are seven movies with hilarious nudity.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
What's funnier than a naked dude? A naked FAT dude. And what's funnier than a naked fat dude? A naked fat dude wrestling a naked skinny dude in a hotel room, and a hotel hallway, and a hotel elevator, etc., etc.

Fox hasn't issued an official press release regarding The Simpsons Movie DVD just yet -- but those lovely TV freaks over at TVShowsonDVD.com look like they've scored themselves a nifty little insider scoop. I'll stop back and update the report once we get further information from an official Fox source, but for now let's see what's (allegedly!) on tap...

Apparently the movie will be released in its original theatrical state (no extended versions or director's cuts*) in your choice of widescreen or (ugh) full. If you own at least ONE (1) Simpsons season set, then you won't be shocked to learn that two audio commentaries will be included. The first includes director David Silverman, animator Rich Moore, and sequence directors Mike Anderson and Steven Dean Moore -- and the second one offers writer-producers James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Al Jean and Mike Scully, director David Silverman, Dan "Homer" Castellaneta, Yeardley "Lisa" Smith and (of course) Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

We're also being promised five deleted scenes and five promo spots -- which tells me one of two things: Either there's more goodies that have yet to be announced ... or that's all the extra features we're getting on this release.

(* until 2008 or 2009, that is )

I don't have any children of my own -- but I have a lot of old friends who are precisely my age. And they ALL have kids. Big bunches of sticky, adorable, smart, loud, wonderful, moody kids. Once in a while I'll get an amusing little phone call that sounds a lot like this: "Hi Uncle Scott it's Robby do you wanna eet at Bugger King and get some Smimmpsons toys?" Now, when your seven-year-old godson asks you a question like that -- you really can't say no. (Truth be told I'd just eaten half a pizza, but I love this kid almost as much as I love The Simpsons.)

So off we go to Burger King and the three kids (Robby, 5-year-old Matty and 3-year-old Ms. Natalie) are on their extra-best behavior because ... they want the Simpsons Movie toys! So when we return to the table with a tray full of char-broiled meat and crusty chicken parts, the kiddies dive straight into their bags for their their plastic pals from Springfield. Robby finds a Spongebob keychain. Matty finds a mini Holly Hobbie doll. Natalie gets a Tonka Truck.

Screaming ensues.

Now, I know this sounds pretty stupid to the mature grown-ups of the world, but the phrases "while supplies last" and "we don't have any left" mean very little to children under the age of seven. They were getting Burger King as a special treat, the TV promised them a Simpsons toy for their troubles -- and they got rooked. So yes, crying did ensue. Weeping, bawling, monumental pouting, you name it. When I politely asked the counter-gal if they had any Simpsons toys in the back, she semi-rolled her eyes and said "No, we ran out yesterday morning" -- which I found really strange since I'd been there the night before and bought a Homer Simpson figure along with a large vanilla milk shake. (Yeah, I collect 'em too. Even I have my weaknesses.)

"Turns out the movie version was exactly like an episode of the TV show, only longer." -- Millions of unimpressed moviegoers after wasting thirty bucks on yet another failed TV-to-movie experiment.

And those moviegoers are usually unimpressed because projects like these exist as little more than franchise exploitation. Seriously, was the universe actually demanding a movie version of Inspector Gadget or The Beverly Hillbillies? Most definitely not. But in certain (generally rare) cases, a successful TV show makes the leap to the silver screen in exceedingly fine form. Star Trek certainly did it. So did South Park, The Addams Family, The Fugitive and Firefly. But lately all the worlds' media attention has been focused on one specific series, a comedic juggernaut that's been chugging merrily along for the last 18 years. It's more than a classic, more than an institution. Heck, I hate to think of television without it. Yep, Springfield fans, it's (finally) time for The Simpsons Movie.

What an amusing novelty it is to see America's favorite yellow family up on the big screen -- doubly so because the magic of the series has translated quite excellently into cinematic form. Aside from a few editing gaffes (the DVD version will probably run 110 minutes!), The Simpsons Movie is quite a GOOD movie: a colorful little treat that's sly enough for the grown-ups, silly enough for the kids and funnier that just about anything found in the multiplexes these days. It's as if someone pulled a forgotten episode out of a vault marked "Simpsons Seasons 4 - 9," stretched the thing out into a tight 85-minute package, and gussied up some of the animation and special effects. So yes, The Simpsons Movie is exactly like a feature-length episode of the Sunday night staple. And in this case, that's a really big compliment.

I've been hearing rumblings about this around the internets and in magazines for the past few weeks. Matt Groening told Entertainment Weekly in this week's Summer Movie Preview: "You'll see anatomy that you may not want to see." I thought it was a joke. Friends, it is not a joke. I don't really know how else to say it: Bart Simpson's yellow genitalia will be on display for all to see in the upcoming Simpsons movie. Newsweek reports: "It happens early in The Simpsons Movie, when the animated 10-year-old takes a dare from his goofball father, Homer, to skateboard naked through the streets of Springfield. Hidden by plants and picket fences, he whizzes along, past kids, down hills, through traffic lights, until, in one shocking moment, little Bart flashes his little part to the entire world. Which may make this the first Hollywood film to show that kind of skin and to escape an R rating." Wow. Really? Just ... just give me a minute here.

For years, Donald Duck walked around without pants, and we said nothing! Now look what it's led to! Bart Simpson's dong? Is nothing sacred? What's next? Live footage of Garfield being neutered? Betty Boop getting bopped? Peppermint Patty finally exploring that long-suppressed lesbianism? Maybe the writers of the film feel like in order to compete with the more outrageous humor of the Family Guys and South Parks, they've got to up the ante. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here, I'm sure they'll make the reveal funny. Still ... really? Poor Bart's 10 years old -- there's no way he could have legally consented to these images being released! Both the Newsweek and the Entertainment Weekly articles are good reads for Simpsons fans, be sure to check them out. I feel the show's been off for a while, but there was a run of about ten years where nothing was funnier. The movie opens on July 27th, and I really can't wait to see the thing. The movie I mean, not ... the thing.

Like most of you, I'm the world's biggest Simpsons fan. Got all the DVD sets, a few posters, a handful of (yes) toys, a bunch of books ... let's just say Matt Groening's got more than a few pennies out of me over the years. Not that I'm complaining; rare is the TV series that delivers the goods after this many years. (Yep, I'm even a fan of the current Simpsons run!)

So when the first few teaser trailers for The Simpsons Movie left me a little ... underwhelmed, I certainly didn't panic. With more than a dozen of the old-school Simpsons writers on the job, not to mention the reliable hand of David Silverman at the helm, I've felt pretty confident about what the flick will (finally!) look like. And this brand-new theatrical trailer sure does seem to bear me out. The latest promo clip (click "trailer 3") features a few solid laughs, some new and nifty animation tricks, and a wonderful sense of character to it. And by "character," I mean "the trailer gives us a glimpse of all the awesome Springfield characters we know and love." It's official: July 27 can't arrive quickly enough.

Just a few days ago we learned that the very first trailer for The Simpsons Movie would be premiering on Fox, sometime around 8pm last night. So we tuned into The Simpsons (which was a really solid episode, btw) and waited patiently for the commercial breaks. And then there it was!

The trailer opens with a silly little piece of CGI fluffery, which then gives way to Homer Simpson doing what he does best: hurting himself. I'll save the clip's few surprises for you to discover, but needless to say I cannot wait to see this movie. Feels like I've been waiting over a decade for a Simpsons movie.

Oh yeah, I have been.

Ok yeah whatever: "The Simpsons isn't as great as it used to be." I hear it all the time and you know what? I still think a so-so Simpsons episode is smarter and funnier than 94.8% of whatever else passes for comedy on network television. (Especially now that Arrested Development is dead, dammit.) And you simply cannot argue with the series' staying power. A series doesn't run for 18 consecutive seasons if people don't keep watching it.

Anyway, enough of my pointless defense of one of television's all-time best comedies: The Simpsons Movie is coming! Finally! Now I know how Bart and Lisa felt when the Itchy & Scratchy Movie hit town! Currently scheduled for a July 27th release , The Simpsons Movie focuses on what happens after Homer contaminates all of Springfield with nuclear waste. Well, that's the plot synopsis that the IMDb is offering, and frankly I don't want to know too much about the story details. I'm patient.

Penned by an absolute all-star team of past and present Simpsons writers, directed by Springfield veteran David Silverman, and featuring the entire voice-cast intact, The Simpsons Movie is guaranteed to make big D'oh! at the box office. Mmmm, horrrrrrible punnnnnns.

Oh yeah, and if you tune into The Simpsons this Sunday night (11/12/06) you'll be treated to the very first promotional trailer for the flick. As if I needed an extra reason to do something different on Sunday night at 8:00pm. Eastern. I'll be back to share the online version once it's available. Because I freaking love The Simpsons. Yes, still.

UPDATE: I've been getting a few messages from people who tell me that, this just in, the new Simpsons Movie trailer seems to be "attached" to several prints of Borat. If you come across one of these trailers, please let us know in the comments section. It's of vital geek importance.

[Thanks to the excellent AnimationMagazine.net for the Homer pic!]

AICN first reported yesterday that a teaser trailer for the new Simpsons movie would be showing before Ice Age 2. Tonight, a whole bunch of people confirmed the rumor to be true and, folks, it looks like we're really getting a Simpsons flick. Yay! Or nay?

From the reports coming in, it doesn't seem like it was a whole lot to get excited about. At least, not yet. Supposedly, the teaser opens up on a close-up of the Superman logo. Then, the image slowly widens to show Homer sitting on the couch with a Superman shirt on. A voice announces a Simpsons movie coming in 2007, then Homer says, "We better get started." After that, we hear Monty Burns' all-too-familiar phrase, "Excellent." Right now, it seems the official title of the film will be Simpsons: The Movie.

Word is this same teaser will play during Sunday's episode of The Simpsons - so be on the look out. Anyone else see the teaser and want to chime in? Was there more to it? Or less?

The Movie Blog points to these new details on the upcoming Simpsons feature. Producer David Mirkin maintains that quality is of utmost importance; to that end, they've decided not to rush production. "It's all about the quality — the writing — which we're working on now," he says. "We are very quality conscious, and we don't want the series to suffer because of the movie." Meanwhile, though the animation processes used will have to be altered slightly for the big screen, no one involved wants the film to look markedly different from the series. "We're looking at various tests to get the right look," Mirkin continues. "We're taking it into the realm of cinema but not too far from how it looks on the show." Still no details on plot, but it looks like many past and present Simpsons writers will be on board.