The Simpsons says kiss my flat plastic butt to reality in the Lego episode, Brick Like Me.
The Simpsons Brick Like Me episode is one of those highly anticipated episodes that scare me.
Its a milestone episode, number 550 and its also a tie-in to a popular movie.
Im always wary of episodes that feature guest stars (or 3DTronrealities) onThe Simpsons.
SometimesThe Simpsonsteam can get their guests to poke fun at themselves.
Other times they pander.
And whenThe Simpsonspanders its not always pretty.
Here its a Lego universe and the Simpsons only live in it.
But they make themselves at home.The Simpsonslose nothing in welcoming the Lego demographic.
you’re free to barely tell that theyve made it ever-so-slightly more kid friendly.
Sometimes faster isnt better, as I learned from Mad magazine (RIP Al Feldstein).
Brick Like Me opens on Marges smiling face and immediately shows the possibilities of working with Legos.
Homer pulls off Marges hand.
It works as both an establishing shot and as the setup for all the gags to come.
As Marge says, Everything fits with everything else and no one gets hurt.
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The construction of Springfield is minutely detailed.
It better be, it took two years to make this episode and Lego donated thousands of building blocks.
The entire boulevard is now lined with shops that reflect the Lego existence, detailed below.
Even Marge and Homers wedding picture is lovingly recreated.
The Love Tester game at Moes is now color coded according to Lego Bricks.
There are some great details, like the shine on the Lego-Springfieldians heads, like plastic reflects light.
The meshing of Legomation and animation doesnt only happen during the shared realities.
The Simpsonshave a few themes that run through the program.
Homer and Lisas relationship is probably the most complicated onThe Simpsons.
Homers repeated attempts to bond with Lisa make him a great dad.
One of the best on TV.
He never stops trying, no matter how much hed rather be doing anything else.
And hes an honest father, he tells Lisa the truths behind parenting.
(And fiction inThe New Yorker.)
Namely that hed rather be doing anything else.
Homer has always been more honest with Lisa than any other character.
Without giving too much away: Of course Comic Book Guy is the catalyst.
The twist makes perfect sense because Comic Book Guy is a collector.
He is the imagination that is unleashed by Legos.
I particularly liked the refitting of the Bible myth to Lego parameters that prove that religion cant be true.
The Simpsons, as Ive pointed out before, are very self-referential and self-aware.
They know theyre a cartoon and they wink at the audience by making jokes about being a cartoon.
They make the audience know that theyre self-aware as Lego creations too.
As Abe points out about Homer, Hes a freak.
Take him apart and leave the pieces under the couch.
So, I came in wary but no, its a good payoff.
Not jam-packed with jokes this time, but no misfires.
Overall, the balance is always tilted toward funny and they didnt lose their subversive core.
Brick Like Me has no groaners.
It will be considered a classic, yeah.
Not my favorite classic, but it is already memorable, lest I forget, and satisfying.
In five years, fans will instantly recognize the Lego episode.
It was strangely exhilerating.
Everything fit and no one got hurt.
Hank Azaria plays Comic Book Guy and Moe Szyslak.
The ad on the back of the zine Comic Book Guy is reading is for X-Ray Specs.
Hats and Hair game.
Church Hymns 1X6, 2X4.
Jebediah Springfield Statue: A noble spirit embiggens the miniest fig.
Elements of Style sells fine torsos for men.
The Universe: Age 13 billion +, No.
of pieces 10 to the 80thpower.
(Sorry, dont know how to format that properly.)
Mistake in Lisas room Malibu Stacy has not been Legoized.
Skinner wasnt tall enough.
Comic Book Guy wasnt fat enough.
AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
