The Mayans had their architecture and the Greeks their myths, so what definitive artifact should the American empire leave behind for posterity? How about The Simpsons Movie? As the animated television show has been doing for 18 seasons, this feature-length farce defines – and then satirically deflates – the American experience. And yet despite its stinging barbs, the picture still has a heedless optimism that is also a hallmark of this country. Much of that has to do with the affectionate attitude toward its title family: Homer, Marge and their brood are a conclusive portrait of the dysfunctional American clan – stuck with each other and, deep down, OK with it.
