[8.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Tons of laughs in this one, which really helps. This isn’t the most incisive satire or deepest story the show’s ever done, but there’s enough of a satirical edge and enough yuks to make it a real winner.
The first act is hilarious spoof not only of the game of baseball, but on bandwagon fans like Homer and the thin excuses for drunken revelry. Bits about the doldrums of minor league baseball and yahoos whooping it up on local T.V. when their teams make the championship game were worth some chuckles.
But we get into the meat of the story in the second act once the kids are blamed for Homer and company’s bad deeds and a curfew falls into place. There’s some fun jokes about the whole crew being forced to stay inside and try to pass the time, and the Children of the Corn spoof is a lot of fun on its own.
The best parts, though, come in the third act. I love the kids’ efforts to get revenge, inspired by their pale-faced movie counterparts, by spilling all their parents’ secrets. The twist with the Chief Wiggum billboard is a good one, and the closing parody of “What’s the Matter with Kids?” from Bye Bye Birdie is a great note to go out on. While it’s kind of a cop out, I do really enjoy the irony of the seniors of the town giving the adults a taste of their own medicine by instituting a curfew for anyone under seventy. (And Old Jewish Man’s commentary over the credits is a hoot.)
Overall, this one has a nice progression between the various segments, a whole heap of good humor, and some neat adventures for the kids. A real gem of the post-classic era.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-10-30T05:34:47Z
[8.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Tons of laughs in this one, which really helps. This isn’t the most incisive satire or deepest story the show’s ever done, but there’s enough of a satirical edge and enough yuks to make it a real winner.
The first act is hilarious spoof not only of the game of baseball, but on bandwagon fans like Homer and the thin excuses for drunken revelry. Bits about the doldrums of minor league baseball and yahoos whooping it up on local T.V. when their teams make the championship game were worth some chuckles.
But we get into the meat of the story in the second act once the kids are blamed for Homer and company’s bad deeds and a curfew falls into place. There’s some fun jokes about the whole crew being forced to stay inside and try to pass the time, and the Children of the Corn spoof is a lot of fun on its own.
The best parts, though, come in the third act. I love the kids’ efforts to get revenge, inspired by their pale-faced movie counterparts, by spilling all their parents’ secrets. The twist with the Chief Wiggum billboard is a good one, and the closing parody of “What’s the Matter with Kids?” from Bye Bye Birdie is a great note to go out on. While it’s kind of a cop out, I do really enjoy the irony of the seniors of the town giving the adults a taste of their own medicine by instituting a curfew for anyone under seventy. (And Old Jewish Man’s commentary over the credits is a hoot.)
Overall, this one has a nice progression between the various segments, a whole heap of good humor, and some neat adventures for the kids. A real gem of the post-classic era.