Well, that was a decent episode with a simple and straightforward plot. It was interesting to see Marge under the influence for (I think) the second time, particularly as it gave her and Homer a way to do things together. I don't know what made the writers put in such an extended Star Wars reference (maybe to give some time to Bart and Lisa?), but it was a pretty amusing jab-jab at the later titles in the series. A few dumb gags spoiled some moments, but not the entire episode; overall, with a previously unexplored basic plot done in a fun way, it's a good everyday episode. Um...B+ (This whole thing is a little short, as I have to finish up a big project. I'd apologize for letting people down, but that seems like a pretty unlikely proposition!)
DYN: ...this is the second episode in a row with an extended movie scene in the first act? (In airing order, anyway...) ...Bart's "whoa mama!" sounds a lot like the same line in "Do the Bartman"? ...Randall Curtis can't touch type, but instead uses the index-finger-jab system? (Hey, at least he's not hunting and pecking...)
...speaking of consecutive episodes, the new King of the Hill ("Apres Hank, Le Deluge (8ABE08)") also featured a longish moustache comb scene?
Previous episode references: DABF04: Homer and Marge are best friends (I want to say another one, as well...3F24?) BABF22: Motion capture animation seen 9F14: Problems with Homer getting back from a beer event 2F03: Oktoberfest celebrated in Springfield 9F14, AABF10, EABF15: Homer/Marge/Homer's licenses revoked 7G04: Marge got smashed in this episode - this might be about the only other one
Other references: The Star Wars series - duh... in particular, George Lucas, Episode I and its bad aspects Porky Pig/Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies or whatever - Marge's trouble pronouncing "incarcerated" and then using a simpler word reminded me of Porky's stuttering - for a different reason, of course
Goofs: -Don't most movie theaters not have separate lines for each movie? (Though maybe they made a special case for Cosmic Wars) -Lisa implies that the crawl at the start of Star Wars (fine, Cosmic...) movies contains all the plot so the rest of the movie can be action; regardless of the quality of the rest of each movie, the background/exposition in the crawls are a good way to avoid wasting time and get to the real point. -Now for some real nitpickiness: Homer's car is parked perpendicular to everyone else's at Oktoberfest -How did Homer stay perfectly still while the car flipped over? -In AABF03, there was no communion at the First Church of Springfield (yeah, yeah...) -In BABF18, Becky says that Otto doesn't do any needle drugs...though perhaps she didn't think to check his toes either
Meta-reference corner -Homer just got fired again, as he has a few times in the past, among other reasons he rarely spends his weekdays at work. -In the "swipes at Fox" department, now it's a division of Orange Julius, and it's also next on Bart/Lisa's complaint list.
Etc. For those who don't know German, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are "eins," "zwei," "drei," and "vier" - "Bier" is "beer" and is pronounced the same way, so "Eins, zwei, drei, Bier!" is a fairly amusing (if not particularly clever) pun here. Brave Combo is an American band that does, among various musical styles, traditional and slightly offbeat polkas - it's also a favorite band of Matt Groening, whcih explains the short appearance tonight.