[4.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] I tend to enjoy these “three stories”-style episodes, even in the double-digit Simpsons seasons, because the bar to clear is lower. They just have to entertain you with novelty and easy gags for seven minutes at a time, rather than try to put together a full story, which the show can usually manage. But here, two of the segments are bad, and one is “pretty good” at best.
The weakest is probably the first segment, a riff on Bonnie and Clyde. The whole “Bonnie needs violence to get hot and bothered” idea is done in a really broad and goofy fashion. The show barely takes advantage of the period setting, and the ending with them chatting while being shot with tommy guns is just plain weird.
The second segment, a Lady and the Tramp spoof, is only marginally better (no pun intended). The only thing this one really has going for it is that it’s neat to see the various Springfield denizens reimagined as dogs, and puppy Bart and Lisa are especially cute. But otherwise, this is the barest twist on the original tale packed with weak gags as filler.
The last segment, focused on Sid and Nancy of the Sex Pistols, is the only one with any juice. There’s a little more atmosphere to this one, more creativity in reframing the kids as punk rockers, and some amusement to be had in reimagining drug binges as candy binges. The whole thing is a little weird, and there’s barely a story to it, but there’s at least more going for it than the others.
Overall, while The Simpsons is otherwise light on Valentine’s Day episodes, you’d be better off watching “I Love Lisa” for the 300th time than giving this one a shot.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-01-08T00:45:02Z
[4.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] I tend to enjoy these “three stories”-style episodes, even in the double-digit Simpsons seasons, because the bar to clear is lower. They just have to entertain you with novelty and easy gags for seven minutes at a time, rather than try to put together a full story, which the show can usually manage. But here, two of the segments are bad, and one is “pretty good” at best.
The weakest is probably the first segment, a riff on Bonnie and Clyde. The whole “Bonnie needs violence to get hot and bothered” idea is done in a really broad and goofy fashion. The show barely takes advantage of the period setting, and the ending with them chatting while being shot with tommy guns is just plain weird.
The second segment, a Lady and the Tramp spoof, is only marginally better (no pun intended). The only thing this one really has going for it is that it’s neat to see the various Springfield denizens reimagined as dogs, and puppy Bart and Lisa are especially cute. But otherwise, this is the barest twist on the original tale packed with weak gags as filler.
The last segment, focused on Sid and Nancy of the Sex Pistols, is the only one with any juice. There’s a little more atmosphere to this one, more creativity in reframing the kids as punk rockers, and some amusement to be had in reimagining drug binges as candy binges. The whole thing is a little weird, and there’s barely a story to it, but there’s at least more going for it than the others.
Overall, while The Simpsons is otherwise light on Valentine’s Day episodes, you’d be better off watching “I Love Lisa” for the 300th time than giving this one a shot.