THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE 10TH SEASON
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1998, Not Rated While
The Simpsons Movie was a solid cinematic effort, this release reminds us that America's most beloved cartoon family (apologies to
The Flintstones), still functions best in blasts lasting 22 minutes and 48 seconds.
Among season 10's highlights: Homer takes Ned Flanders to Vegas for a bender, Lisa winds up in a depravation tank and the whole clan makes their way to Japan. Then there's the episode "When You Dish Upon a Star," which features guest vocals by Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger, and finds Homer as the star couple's personal assistant. Alas, the decade mark is the final run before the wear starts to show on the series. Still a great comedy, it holds that status primarily by grading on the curve. Yet
The Simpsons universe is far from void of that once great comic energy. Groening subtly tweaks our noses again for buying free TV and increasing his profit margin, but the man knows where his bread is buttered and happily provides hilarious commentary on all 23 episodes. And in a final nudge, he gives us a preview of
The Simpsons Movie DVD. This collection is a little more sporadic, but the spark is still there.
Grade: A
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