did anyone else find the simpsons movie too political?

[im_ryandick]

it wasn't the same simpsons that i've been watching for all these years.
from the opening scene, with itchy as president, i was shocked at how much focus went into left-wing writing and not belly laughs like i had expected.

i was disappointed as hell, and i agree with msn movies 3 / 5 stars.
i hope they don't do the same to the futurama movie.

"i was elected to lead, not read."
come onnnnn.

[Groucho]

I didn't find it that political at all. The Itchy/Hilary thing was just a throwaway gag.

[dadaluholla]

If only there was a thread for reviews of the Simpsons movie!

[burnside986]

eye c waht u did thar!

[im_ryandick]

because i'm asking for reviews of the movie, right?

If only there was a thread for reviews of the Simpsons movie!

[Seantn]

The reviews thread is a general discussion thread.

[PopcornTreeCt]

Left-Wing political? Like I needed another reason to skip this movie.

[Mr. Salty]

from the opening scene, with itchy as president, i was shocked at how much focus went into left-wing writing and not belly laughs like i had expected.
You have thin skin.

"The Simpsons" has always poked fun at everyone, including whoever is in the White House. The whole appeal of the show has been that it's an equal-opportunity offender.

[Seantn]

That might be going over the edge a bit. I've never looked at the show and thought of it as being "offensive" to anyone. Maybe they make a few jokes about certain things, but offensive is a pretty strong word.

[hardercore]

The Simpsons movie was all kinds of awesome, and I didn't feel it went OTT with any kind of poilitical agenda. It took generally good-natured jabs that were designed to draw laughs, not heated debate.

[Hokeyboy]

I thought lefties were supposed to be the oversensitive ones... rotfl

[sauce07]

The Simpsons has always poked fun at political situations. Lisa has always been a left wing idealist who cares about the environment just as Homer has never cared about anything (that is until the very last second).
As for the "I was elected to read, not to read" line, this has nothing to do with any current or past president, this is a joke coming from President Schwarzenegger's (!) mouth, not Bush. In 20 years when people watch this timeless movie they will not be thinking that this was made while Bush was in office, they will be laughing at the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder turned action movie star turned gov. of California, was president.

P.S. they will also be laughing at the fact that people wouldn't listen to Lisa about the dangers of global warming.

P.S.S. Lighten up and laugh, it's the Simpsons Movie

[UncleGramps]

No.

[mmconhea]

I feel perhaps one would think it was political if they took offense to jokes that our political leaders are idoits... if they were very sensative to that sort of thing... or defensive for some reason... Like if they were one of those people that still think Bush is "just a bad public speaker" and that people that say to the contrary are just liberals bashing the president. Yeah I can see that. But no, it's just a cartoon and they are just jokes. The Simpsons' policical agenda is about as realistic as the Simpsons' skin tone.
The simpsons has always taken shots at presidents: Sr., Clinton, Jr., Ford, Carter.

[paradicelost]

I haven't got to see the movie yet, but i wouldn't doubt it. People can say "Simpsons just make fun of everyone" and i agree to a point but they make a point to push the limit when it comes to making fun of Bush and other republicans. They crack on conservatives as hard as South Park crack on liberals, though people just notice and bitch about South Park more. Groening hates Dubya, and he has made that very obvious the last 7 1/2 years,especially when he threw that little subliminal "Vote for Gore" on the chalkboard the sunday nite before the election. Don't get me wrong i do like the simpsons and i do plan on going to see the movie and even with the conservative jokes i'm sure I'll laugh my ass off. Kinda off topic and its just my opinion so be gentle with the flaming.

[dan30oly]

This movie did lean alot towards the left.

That being said, that tv series takes shots at everyone and I would estimate that if you took the series as a whole, they probably take an even amount of pot shots at each side.

p.s. I thought the movie was mediocre at best. It felt like one very long super-sized regular tv episode, nothing worth spending $10 on.

[BernieStolar]

NRA 4ever

[Groucho]

This movie did lean alot towards the left.Examples?

[wildcatlh]

I haven't got to see the movie yet, but i wouldn't doubt it. People can say "Simpsons just make fun of everyone" and i agree to a point but they make a point to push the limit when it comes to making fun of Bush and other republicans. They crack on conservatives as hard as South Park crack on liberals, though people just notice and bitch about South Park more. Groening hates Dubya, and he has made that very obvious the last 7 1/2 years,especially when he threw that little subliminal "Vote for Gore" on the chalkboard the sunday nite before the election. Don't get me wrong i do like the simpsons and i do plan on going to see the movie and even with the conservative jokes i'm sure I'll laugh my ass off. Kinda off topic and its just my opinion so be gentle with the flaming.

Erm... did you not watch the show in the mid-late 90s? Do you not remember how much they made fun of Clinton? Do you not remember the "I'm a pretty lousy president" line? Geesh.

Marge: President Clinton?
Clinton: Yeah, hi. I'm here to see Lisa Simpson.
Lisa: [gasps] You read my letter?
Clinton: Much of it, yeah. And those glow sticks were wrong,
very wrong, so I personally overturned the results
of that band contest. Congratulations. [hands Lisa
a plaque]
Lisa: [gasps] Thank you, Mr. President.
Clinton: No, thank you, Lisa, for teaching kids everywhere a
valuable lesson: If things don't go your way, just
keep complaining until your dreams come true.
Marge: That's a pretty lousy lesson.
Clinton: Hey, I'm a pretty lousy president.

[Brain Stew]

BEFORE I WRITE ANYTHING, I MUST GIVE A SPOILER ALERT. REALLY YOU SHOULDN'T BE READING A THREAD LIKE THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE, BUT I AM SURE SOMEONE WOULD COMPLAIN WITH A SPOILER ALERT.

from the opening scene, with itchy as president
If you want to get technical about it and extend this insane thought process, Itchy was elected due to the forward momentum of being seen an Astronaut/American Hero, when in actually he savagely killed the only other person who went to the moon with him and lied about it. When it was revealed that Scratchy was alive, Itchy then sent the sum total of America's nuclear weapons to kill Scratchy once and for all. So basically, a Democratic president is shown as being a liar, a war monger and against the environment (that many nukes would destroy the moon which would screw up the tides).

So you see after analyzing things way more than the writers did, you can really see the true right wing message.

[calhoun07]

The show has always had political humor thrown in the series, and it's clear where Groening's political feelings lean towards.

I think it's just more noticeable in this movie because the jokes are closer together, not randomly spaced out in the series over a number of episodes.

[calhoun07]

I haven't got to see the movie yet, but i wouldn't doubt it. People can say "Simpsons just make fun of everyone" and i agree to a point but they make a point to push the limit when it comes to making fun of Bush and other republicans. They crack on conservatives as hard as South Park crack on liberals, though people just notice and bitch about South Park more. Groening hates Dubya, and he has made that very obvious the last 7 1/2 years,especially when he threw that little subliminal "Vote for Gore" on the chalkboard the sunday nite before the election. Don't get me wrong i do like the simpsons and i do plan on going to see the movie and even with the conservative jokes i'm sure I'll laugh my ass off. Kinda off topic and its just my opinion so be gentle with the flaming.

He's also taken a few jabs at Democrats. Like in the episode where Lisa and Bart can't break into writing for Itchy and Scratchy so they use Abe's name. Abe suddenly starts to get a check each week for $800.00. He thought it was from the government and when asked why would the government would give him money for doing nothing he replied, "I thought the Democrats were back in power."

I would suspect that Groening leans towards the Democratic party, but he does throw some good jabs at them too.

[RagingBull80]

There are a lot of conservatives on this board.

[Chew]

I didn't feel the movie was any more or less political than the show usually is.

[RichC2]

I've seen far more political episodes. There were a couple political slaps here and there, but it was about par for course for The Simpsons, and I found it to be a pretty equal offender.

(Paraphrasing Sideshow Bob as he gets arrested) "I'll be out of jail and on the streets in no time! You can't keep the democrats out of the white house forever!"

(Paraphrasing that entire episode where the Simpsons become convicts and go to france) "Fuck the gov't!"

[Howiefan]

hahahahahhaha.
for whatever reason, that made me laugh pretty loud.

it wasn't the same simpsons that i've been watching for all these years.
from the opening scene, with itchy as president, i was shocked at how much focus went into left-wing writing and not belly laughs like i had expected.

i was disappointed as hell, and i agree with msn movies 3 / 5 stars.
i hope they don't do the same to the futurama movie.

"i was elected to lead, not read."
come onnnnn.

[grim_tales]

I didn't feel the movie was any more or less political than the show usually is.

I agree with this, no more political than your average episode IMO, and they've always made fun of everyone (remember the 2 Bad neighbors episode - Bush Sr. and Ford).

[ChristopherS]

In comedic settings politicians have always been made fun of for being dumb (if not dumb, than liars). Dan Quale got it much worse than Bush. For some reason Bush supporters seem to take the dumb jokes to heart. Hmm I wonder why!

[paradicelost]

Erm... did you not watch the show in the mid-late 90s? Do you not remember how much they made fun of Clinton? Do you not remember the "I'm a pretty lousy president" line? Geesh.

Marge: President Clinton?
Clinton: Yeah, hi. I'm here to see Lisa Simpson.
Lisa: [gasps] You read my letter?
Clinton: Much of it, yeah. And those glow sticks were wrong,
very wrong, so I personally overturned the results
of that band contest. Congratulations. [hands Lisa
a plaque]
Lisa: [gasps] Thank you, Mr. President.
Clinton: No, thank you, Lisa, for teaching kids everywhere a
valuable lesson: If things don't go your way, just
keep complaining until your dreams come true.
Marge: That's a pretty lousy lesson.
Clinton: Hey, I'm a pretty lousy president.

i didn't say they never made fun of democrats, i just said they push harder to the right. I basically agree with Calhoun07 in that it is pretty clear what side of the political fence he is on. And it is true I'm not going to notice the liberal jokes on the simpsons as much as I am the conservative jokes just like many seem to ignore the conservative jokes on South Park and only pay attention to all the liberal "bashing"

[Cardiac161]

It's a comedy with satirical political overtones. It was funny...lighten up!!! Come onnnn.

[purplechoe]

There are a lot of conservatives on this board.

Not necessarily, I consider myself a Democrat but because I put such things as intelectual honesty above partisan politics I criticize liberals a lot more than conservatives. I see a lot more conservatives being able to criticize their own, than I do in the liberal circles. (For all the shit I hear about the President using Nazzi, etc. tactics, I see a lot more of it, including socialist propaganda, I know I grew up under communism, on the left than the right - fairness doctrine anyone?) With that said, the makers of the Simpsons definitely lean to the left, but I didn't have a problem with that. Once in a while they make fun of the lefties, they make fun of the right A LOT more. Do you have a problem when people point out that Groening is a hard core lefty?

Clean up your own house before you take a shit in somebody elses.

[wendersfan]

No, it wasn't too political.

How can conservatives complain about <i>The Simpsons</i> with a guy like Mayor Quimby running Springfield? I think some people just look for ways to be offended.

[mayorofsmpleton]

Not the simpsons you remember? Um... I can't count the number of political references the series has made over the years...

It's a satire of pop-culture and America as a whole... always has been slightly political in several episodes.

Remember the Treehouse of horror episode where Homer kills both Bob Dole and Clinton, on accident? Ross Perot punches his hat in when they say "Go ahead, throw your vote away [on a 3rd party candidate]."

Perhaps in the last several years the show has leaned more toward slapstick... but the show was fairly political in the older episodes.

[Mosskeeto]

I think it's clear that some people here just can't enjoy their satire without letting their political persuasion getting in the way of their funnybone. This is a cartoon! Not live action! It doesn't feature stars who are espousing their cause de jour. No Tom Selleck battling it out with Warren Beatty till the best platform is left standing.
Vote with your wallet.

[RagingBull80]

Not necessarily, I consider myself a Democrat but because I put such things as intelectual honesty above partisan politics I criticize liberals a lot more than conservatives. I see a lot more conservatives being able to criticize their own, than I do in the liberal circles. (For all the shit I hear about the President using Nazzi, etc. tactics, I see a lot more of it, including socialist propaganda, I know I grew up under communism, on the left than the right - fairness doctrine anyone?) With that said, the makers of the Simpsons definitely lean to the left, but I didn't have a problem with that. Once in a while they make fun of the lefties, they make fun of the right A LOT more. Do you have a problem when people point out that Groening is a hard core lefty?

Clean up your own house before you take a shit in somebody elses.
Nah, I don't have a problem with that. I really don't have a problem with anyone being open about being either far right or left. I just felt like there were a lot more conservative Simpsons fans than I expected.

I am not a Simpsons fan myself and have no opinion about it but I was just enjoying all the political hoo-ha of this thread.

[majorjoe23]

"Jimmy Carter? He's the greatest monster of the 20th century!"

[grim_tales]

And Quimby is supposed to a pastiche of Kennedy I'm sure.
Don't forget Sideshow Bob's "Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic but deep down inside you crave a cold hearted Republican to raise taxes, brutalise criminals, and rule you like a King".

[hermes10]

I thought lefties were supposed to be the oversensitive ones... rotfl

So, are the Wingers twitching because they're oversensitive, or is there something in the movie really worthy of offense? I wasn't going to see it but if it pisses off Dubya's fanboys it might be worth paying for. From the comments in this thread it sounds more like a lot of people are just thin skinned.

[Groucho]

Considering so far nobody's given even one example of the "left-wing focus", I'd say it's just thin skin.

[Rockmjd23]

Don't forget Sideshow Bob's "Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic but deep down inside you crave a cold hearted Republican to raise taxes, brutalise criminals, and rule you like a King".
It's lower taxes...who's biased now? ;)

[Jason]

Considering so far nobody's given even one example of the "left-wing focus", I'd say it's just thin skin.

But but but, Arnie is president, and he makes a bad pun. Do I have to draw you a picture?

[majorjoe23]

Groucho was elected to mock, not to look at pictures.

[RyoHazuki]

I've seen many episodes that were left leaning, but I wouldn't consider the movie as leftist. The political jokes were pretty broad and could have applied to either party. I don't recall Republicans being singled out at all.

[grim_tales]

It's lower taxes...who's biased now? ;)

D'oh! Forgot the line ;)

[Lastdaysofrain]

Why is it that people on both sides (although it seems to especially be on the "conservative" or "republican" or whatever they want to brand themselves these days) feel like it's all or nothing with poking fun at political ideals and agendas?

They BOTH have silly, inconsistent and assinine beliefs and actions that are ripe for being called out on. It just so happens that at the moment their side has a lot more to call BS on in a parody than the other.

If a smart person making a piece of pop culture is poking fun at ridiculous things in that culture, there's going to be a whole lot of ridiculous things from the political world.

Have a sense of humor about the silly ideals you associate yourself with.

[DRG]

I really don't care which side they make fun of, as long as it's funny. I thought the political jabs in this movie were funny, as opposed to some of the political jabs in the most recent Treehouse of Terror. That episode's anti-Bush material was just too obvious and unfunny.

And the inclusion of "An Irritating Truth" showed they were willing to poke fun at both sides, even if not in equal amounts.

[Jericho]

I think you can turn almost anything political if you manipulate and mangle it enough. I suggest some people stop looking for deeper political motives in everything. Sometimes its just a comedic movie.

I mean I can bake a joke about President Bush. Is because I though it was funny or because I have some great political agenda to undermine all Republicans?

[Luther Heggs]

I mean I can bake a joke about President Bush.
Mmm...freshly baked joke...

[hermes10]

That episode's anti-Bush material was just too obvious and unfunny.

I can't decide how to ask my question. I want to ask: is that even possible? --but at the same time, I wonder how it could be any other way?

[Mabuse]

The only political question left hanging in the air by The Simposons movie is:

Why is Rainier Wolfcastle now President Schwartzeneger?

[misterchimpy]

that was odd, i mean, wolfcastle was an obvious parody of schwarzenegger, right down to his kennedy--errr....quimby in-laws. maybe studio executive butt-pirates did it to make it more marketable?

[grim_tales]

True, Wolfcastle/McBain was great and a superb Arnie piss take character, and when I saw "President Schwarzenegger" I thought "This is just Wolfcastle but with a different hair colour" :D
Speaking of Arnie, I remember one episode when Bart/Homer are watching a McBain movie and McBain bursts out of an ice statue and says "ICE TO SEE YOU!" and mows everyone down. This was some years before Arnie used that pun himself, as Mr. Freeze in Batman and Robin :p

[Out of Bounds]

There are a lot of conservatives on this board.


Understatement of the year.

[BigDaddy]

I got a Katrina vibe from the dome city. I think it was pretty even as far as the political stuff.

[grim_tales]

Katria? What's that?

[Rockmjd23]

Understatement of the year.
Yes, your whopping 17 posts qualifies you as the political expert of the forum. :lol:

[silentbob007]

While I would agree that older Simpsons episodes took a lot of shots at both sides, I think that the episodes of the past few years have been more skewed to the left. I've found myself talking to the TV (sure sign of sanity, right?) on numerous occasions saying ... "Yes. We get it. You don't like the Iraq war. How about something funny?"

[hdtv00]

No, but it is the first movie in decade that I couldn't finish watching, because I just didn't give a shit. Which surprised me really.

And what show and/or movie isn't taking shots at bush these days, it's the new in thing to do.

[Jackskeleton]

I didn't feel the movie was any more or less political than the show usually is.


I agree with this statement and I find this thread to be funny.

[Groucho]

And what show and/or movie isn't taking shots at bush these days, it's the new in thing to do.I can name at least one: The Simpsons Movie.

[CaptainMarvel]

Eh. The Simpsons tv show has made a habit of taking some rather pointed jabs at Bush (Treehouse of Horror's XVI "The Day the Earth Looked Stupid", for example, was a pretty direct jab at Republicans and Iraq), but the movie didn't seem to take that many shots at either political side.

[DeputyDave]

As a rabid, right wing conservative I didn't see anything overt in the political humor. The movie was fairly even handed (which surprises me considering Matt's beliefs).

That said: the movie itself was pretty average and ho hum (like the last several seasons) and I'm glad I saw it for free.


P.S. they will also be laughing at the fact that people wouldn't listen to Lisa about the dangers of global warming.

I agree but for probably very different reasons.

[EricDSnider]

The only time people complain about something being "too political" is when they don't agree with the politics.

It has nothing to do with whether "The Simpsons Movie" has too many political jokes. The problem for some viewers is that those political jokes don't skew the same way they do.

[Mosskeeto]

The only time people complain about something being "too political" is when they don't agree with the politics.
I believe you hit the nail on the head.

[The Bus]

Clowns in congress?

Man, how does it stay topical like that?