Well, it looks like The Simpsons Movie is going to be the blockbuster that everyone’s been expecting for 18 years or so…previewing in theaters from today, it’s been blazing a trail of publicity. Here at Animated Views, we’ve got something cool for ya: Josh’s one-on-one with writer-producer Mike Scully, a discussion that looks at the beginnings of the movie, why it took so long, and what we can expect from the finished picture!

Many respected publications have already taken their first look: The Hollywood Reporter says the film is “everything a fan of the 18-year-old series could ask for, a clever and spirited big-screen version of its better-known small-screen cousin”. Over at The Guardian‘s UK newspaper, Peter Bradshaw says at Guardian Unlimited that “85 minutes is not long enough to do justice to 17 years of comedy genius”. The movie, out today, is also celebrated in a Culture Show special, tonight on the UK’s BBC 2, at 7:30pm, but I think I’ll try and hop out and be at the movies!

– Ben.