[3.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Man, this was the pits. The story had all kinds of problems, but really the things that kills me is how thoroughly unfunny it was. There were maybe two jokes I laughed at (the lemon resistance/lime vulnerability and the Snuffleupagus homage) and the rest were not just yawners, but most of them were actively terrible. I’m not sure I can remember a more laughless half hour of the show.
The A-story, which sees Homer taking time off work unbeknownst to his family after an accident at the plant, is all over the place. It’s nominally supposed to be about Homer learning to be more attentive to Marge, but it derails into a nonsensical bit where he’s hallucinating an ersatz James Bond who gives him wooing advice. The generic spy spoof is a major waste of guest star Bryan Cranston, and the whole thing becomes more of an excuse for hollow, zany escapades from Homer than anything that actually illuminates his and Marge’s relationship.
The B-story is tired Super Size Me riff that is less a story and more a loose association of fast food jokes and body changes from Nelson. The faux-documentary segment was particularly laugh-free, and the plot had zero pace or trajectory. Stuff just sort of happened haphazardly and none of it was interesting beyond Lisa’s little crush.
Overall, this was bad, even for latter-day Simpsons, which is saying something.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2019-02-05T23:55:16Z
[3.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Man, this was the pits. The story had all kinds of problems, but really the things that kills me is how thoroughly unfunny it was. There were maybe two jokes I laughed at (the lemon resistance/lime vulnerability and the Snuffleupagus homage) and the rest were not just yawners, but most of them were actively terrible. I’m not sure I can remember a more laughless half hour of the show.
The A-story, which sees Homer taking time off work unbeknownst to his family after an accident at the plant, is all over the place. It’s nominally supposed to be about Homer learning to be more attentive to Marge, but it derails into a nonsensical bit where he’s hallucinating an ersatz James Bond who gives him wooing advice. The generic spy spoof is a major waste of guest star Bryan Cranston, and the whole thing becomes more of an excuse for hollow, zany escapades from Homer than anything that actually illuminates his and Marge’s relationship.
The B-story is tired Super Size Me riff that is less a story and more a loose association of fast food jokes and body changes from Nelson. The faux-documentary segment was particularly laugh-free, and the plot had zero pace or trajectory. Stuff just sort of happened haphazardly and none of it was interesting beyond Lisa’s little crush.
Overall, this was bad, even for latter-day Simpsons, which is saying something.