The Simpsons Movie

Twenty years after their first appearance on The Tracey Ullman Show, everybody's favourite dysfunctional cartoon family finally made it on to the big screen. Cheekily described by creator Matt Groening as "Homer's Odyssey", this is certainly epic, with a plot that follows Homer from Springfield to Alaska and back again after he accidentally causes an environmental disaster in his home town (D'oh!). The script is glorious in its ambition, tackling everything from lowbrow slapstick to inventive visual gags (Bart's naked skateboarding is a highlight), barbed political comment (an ill-informed President Arnold Schwarzenegger declaring "I was elected to lead, not to read") and irreverent swipes at its competitors (Walt Disney gets a bashing). While some fans will undoubtedly be upset that a few of their favourite characters are sidelined (including villainous Mr Burns), this reaffirms The Simpsons as the jewel in the crown of American animation.