GOOD news for children of all ages: The Simpsons Movie has been awarded a PG certificate, despite a full-frontal image of a naked, skateboarding Bart.The first details of the northern summer's most keenly awaited blockbuster emerged after a screening in London of edited highlights that was surrounded by airport-style security.
The invited audience was frisked and forced to surrender mobile phones.
Environmentalism and Christianity are the satirical targets in the big-screen debut of the animated series, which reaches cinemas here on July 27.
Lisa gets a "green-conscious" Irish boyfriend, while Homer's toxic pollution of Springfield's river threatens the whole town with evacuation.
There is a "super-special secret guest appearance" - following cameos from former British prime minister Tony Blair and physicist Stephen Hawking - which the producers are not prepared to reveal.
The most disturbing image involves Bart eagerly accepting Homer's dare to skateboard at high speed to Krusty Burger, stark naked. After a series of fortuitous cover-ups, there is a fleeting glimpse of the 10-year-old's modest, but distinctly yellow, penis.
Fortunately for the producers, Fox, the British Board of Film Classification has taken a liberal approach.
A spokeswoman said: "Natural nudity with no sexual content is acceptable in PG films. "It will sail over most children's heads. "The Simpsons is really for grown-ups, isn't it?"
The film marks 20 years since the television debut of The Simpsons.
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