The world has waited 18 long years to see its favorite irreverent yellow clan on the big screen. (If any of you upperclassmen want to feel old, consider that some freshman readers of this column weren’t born yet.) Was it worth every second of anticipation and longing, or did Hollywood screw up yet another American institution? Well, “The Simpsons Movie” is a heck of a lot more clever than its title.

Neither an embarrassment nor a modern classic, “The Simpsons Movie” dishes out plenty of laughs while giving just about every inhabitant of Springfield a moment in the sun. The film actually does feel like a movie rather than three jammed-together episodes, which means it sports a more detailed plot than fans of the TV show are accustomed to.

However, as hard as the filmmakers tried to craft an emotionally resonant story, the best and funniest parts of the movie are the asides. Bart daddy-bonding with his neighbor? Meh. Bart full frontal? In stitches. This is the kind of film you could easily watch enough times to hold entire conversations in “Simpsons Movie” one-liners.

It’s probably best not to think too hard about the movie’s environmental politics. While a toxic dump into Lake Springfield sets the plot in motion, all of the eco-babble is just a platform on which to hang a bit of story and a lot of jokes.

After Homer’s monumental stupidity turns Springfield into a cross between St. Elsewhere and Jericho, the family goes on the lam from the nefarious EPA. The physical and spiritual journey that follows rivals that of Odysseus. Or something like that.

Anyway, the Simpsons are equal opportunity offenders, which is as it should be. The social satire is as sharp as ever, taking on such pressing issues as contemporary politics, suburban Christianity, rock star activism and large-breasted medicine women. For a brand with such a long track record, it’s not surprise that “The Simpsons” also shows a hefty dose of self-awareness about its place in the media, and more than a few meta-sneers dot the script.

Even though the film sags in places when the character development threatens to overwhelm the fun, “The Simpsons Movie” is 10 times smarter and more original than some of the other comedic trash that gullible moviegoers are being peddled these days. Long-time fans should not expect a return to the golden days of the show, but what they will get isn’t bad.

Rating: Two and three-quarter stars (out of four)
“The Simpsons Movie” is rated PG-13. It opens Friday at the Regal Green Hills and the Hollywood 27.