| Welcome to the Club | |
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.jpg) | |
| Directed by | David Silverman |
| Written by |
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| Based on | The Simpsons byMatt Groening |
| Produced by | |
| Music by | Bleeding Fingers Music |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Disney+ (Disney Platform Distribution) |
Release date |
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Running time | 3 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Welcome to the Club is an Americananimated short film based on the television seriesThe Simpsons produced byGracie Films and20th Television Animation, debuting on the streaming serviceDisney+ on September 8, 2022,[1] and received mixed reviews from critics. Like the previous shorts, it was directed byDavid Silverman.[2][3]
Lisa andBart approach a castle, and Lisa is excited to become an officially recognizedDisney Princess. However, Bart turns out to have been a disguise byLoki to trick Lisa into instead joining forces with theDisney Villains. A musical number is performed by many Disney animated villains, such asUrsula fromThe Little Mermaid,Cruella de Vil fromOne Hundred and One Dalmatians,Captain Hook fromPeter Pan,the Queen of Hearts fromAlice in Wonderland,Maleficent fromSleeping Beauty,Evil Queen fromSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs (in her witch form),Jafar fromAladdin,Hades fromHercules,Scar fromThe Lion King andKaa fromThe Jungle Book, to try and convince Lisa to become a Disney villain. Lisa then points out that many Disney villains end up dying, to which the villains point out that it is better than living “happily ever after” with a generic Disney prince, with the musical number being followed by several Disney prince characters singing.Mickey Mouse interrupts the number, and the short ends with many of the Disney princes forming together the shape of Mickey's head on the floor.[4][5][6][7]
Welcome to the Club was released onDisney+ Day on September 8, 2022.[8][9][10] On September 1, the first promotional poster had been revealed, portrayingLisa Simpson andUrsula fromThe Little Mermaid parodying the last scene of the 1991Ridley Scott filmThelma & Louise.[11][12][13][14][15] Another poster, also portraying Lisa and Ursula, was released on the Disney+ Day.[16]
John Schwarz ofBubbleblabber gaveWelcome to the Club a five out of ten stating "The latePat Carroll is spinning in her grave for this one. Yes, we get another Tom Hiddleston cameo, but really this short is quite skippable. The song, while containing some funny lyrics, abruptly ends and really features no resolve to the initial bit the producers were trying to pull off with Lisa. As cool as it was to seeThe Simpsons again after several months off, the shorts are starting to irk me a bit in their execution".[17]
Stacey Henley, journalist ofTheGamer, criticized latest Disney+ short films, stating "Lisa sings a silly song, Kevin Michael Richardson voices Captain Hook with a ridiculously deep baritone, and the credits roll. Another entirely pointless venture that wastes what might have been a good idea. Even as a Treehouse short, which are desperately hit and miss these days, this might have had a chance. Instead the idea is wasted as a short that serves nobody aside from probably getting some curiosity clicks for Disney Plus."[18]
J.S. Gornael ofCollider rankedWelcome to the Club fifth of eleven in their top ofThe Simpsons shorts available on Disney+.[19]
Films directed byDavid Silverman | |
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