"I will not illegally download this movie" writes Bart on that famous school blackboard and my recommendation is to follow his advice because "The Simpsons" on the silver screen is one of the biggest, yellowest movies you will see this year. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and some of your favourite characters are gathered together for an excellent adventure that threatens the very existence of Springfield – a situation naturally caused by Homer.

Ever since Twentieth Century Fox registered the internet domain www.simpsonsmovie.com nine years ago, fans have been eagerly waiting for the movie, especially in the wake of countless other old television shows being transferred to the cinema. Thankfully the nine-year wait does not disappoint and its 87-minute running time is crammed full of humour, excitement, romance, drama, family issues and a pig – Spider-Pig, no less.

After the band Green Day dissolve in the acidic waters of Lake Springfield, Lisa warns the town that the lake is on the verge of disaster and eventually everybody bands together to clean up the pollution. Following Homer daring Bart to skateboard naked through Springfield, the family gain a new pet in the form of a pig that can impersonate both Homer and Marge. When Marge discovers that the pig's waste is being stored in a silo in the garden she orders Homer to dispose of it properly, but everybody knows it will end up in Lake Springfield.

The lake turns toxic, the Environment Protection Agency arrive and before Springfield realises what has happened a large glass dome has been placed over the entire town trapping the residents. Once the town discovers it was Homer's fault, the Simpsons manage to escape from the angry mob and the dome, and start a new life in Alaska. However, when they discover Springfield is going to be wiped off the face of the planet all of the family eventually decide to help save the day.

There are moments in the film when you feel the comedy is just padding but you forgive and laugh at the offering, plus you are continually trying to spot film references and also in-jokes from the series that been running for 19 seasons. The absence of Sideshow Bob, Kang and Kodos, and others is noticeable, while other favourites don't get enough screen time, but you can't have everything, although Maggie does say 'sequel' at the start of the end credits – by the way, watch until the end for a few extra clips – so there is hope in the future.

The film is an extended version of the TV series, so you know what to expect… sometimes. The writers had some fun poking fun at the fact that it is a movie and we are even treated to a 'To be continued…' caption half way through. Cameos from the aforementioned Green Day and the debut of Tom Hanks in "The Simpsons" are additional surprises, while Colin, an Irish boy who cares about the environment with whom Lisa falls in love, angrily denies he is Bono's son.

Director David Silverman had previously directed over 20 "The Simpsons" episodes and also co-directed Pixar's Monsters, Inc. back in 2001, so he is familiar with the series and the animation genre. However, Matt Groening stated that they would not be using Pixar-esque CGI, choosing to stick with the art of hand-drawn animation and the film has a particularly vibrant look because of it.

The Simpsons Movie will not disappoint the fans and I promise you that long after you have left the cinema you will still have Homer's Spider-Pig song running around your head: Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig / Does whatever a Spider-Pig does / Can he swing / from a web? / No he can't / cause he's a pig / Look out! / He is the Spider-Pig!

D'oh!