The Simpsons (TV Series) The Crepes of Wrath (1990) User Reviews

C'est Bon!

[LedZep712 · 8/10 · 25 November 2007]

The Crepes Of Wrath

One of the better Season 1 episodes, Crepes Of Wrath is the first in the show's long line of "Simpsons visit..." though the exception being only one Simpsons family member (Bart) going to France.

The episode doesn't rely entirely on culture shock and very little of the episode is in Paris, instead settling on the less used rural regions of the country which gives some relief. Of course, there is also the unexpected use of the country, Albania. Of course, with it being Albania in 1990 the episode was outdated soon after, but on entertainment value it is good for it's time.

Nancy Cartwright's performance with Bart is somewhat impressive, though the acting of the other cast members isn't exactly as strong. But above it all, it's an ambitious episode for a program which at that point was so young, and it pays off.

Funny and Interesting!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 24 November 2013]

This episode is one of the bright spots for Season 1 for many reasons. It's funny and quite interesting. This is also the first episode where we get to see a Simpson leave Springfield. There are some funny scenes especially when Homer doesn't see his new Albanian son as a threat as he gives him blueprints of a nuclear reactor. I also like how the French are stereotyped because this is exactly how they usually are stereotyped by Americans.

This episode, "The Crepes of Wrath" has Bart almost seriously injuring Principal Skinner's mother at school. Skinner, therefore proposes a plan by sending him to France. While in France, Bart becomes a slave of some very bad winemakers.

Overall, this is a fun episode that is really interesting. There are a few funny moments but this is one of the strongest episodes yet in the early going. I rate this episode 9/10.

A really nice entertaining episode with sufficient heart, humour and sense of adventure

[SLionsCricketreviews · 7/10 · 9 January 2018]

Watching "The Crepes of Wrath" feels like somewhat of an improvement in quality as well as a more affirmative idea for what The Simpsons should and will become. It is the single most entertaining episode for me personally since "Bart the General" and is early signs that The Simpsons is evolving.

After Bart sets off another prank during school, Principal Skinner visits the Simpsons household to discuss with his parents the possibility of signing Bart up for a foreign student exchange policy. Soon, Bart is sent off to France for three months while an Albanian exchange student occupies the empty seat at the Simpsons household.

Now this really feels like a Simpsons episode. We see more of Bart's rebellious that has actually been very well captured so far in the season (Bart himself is probably the best part of the season) and we see the relationship between Homer and Bart from the former's end. Homer himself is beginning to feel more like the character that fans have come to love and Dan Castellaneta's vocal performance no longer feels as gruff and deep and is slowly showing audible signs of the classic Homer voice. It certainly helps the humour from Homer's end flow a little smoother now.

The main story is simply quite entertaining. Watching the rebellious and often spoiled and therefore ungrateful Bart learning of the hardships of life during his ordeal in France, which itself is very amusing as well as dramatic, is plenty engaging and equally engaging is watching the foreign student and his dynamic in the Simpsons household.

The little twists and turns are nice and work very well, especially Adil (the exchange student) being a spy for a covert organization and Bart's sudden realization that he can finally speak French (which is hilarious and classic Simpsons). The episode simply flows nicely.

"The Crepes of Wrath" is entertaining and really, things are moving into place. The Simpsons is evolving into the show I love and this episode has the right amount of heart, humour and sense of Simpson-esque adventure. My favourite episode since "Bart the General" of the first season so far.

I'll send you those civil defence plans you wanted

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 15 June 2022]

Bart participates in a student exchange program and heads to France.

This is a strong episode with some memorable moments.

I love the premise of Bart being so difficult to manage that Homer and Principle Skinner want him out of the country. It also creates an enjoyable A/B story about the experiences of Bart and Adil.

The opening scenes with Skinner, his mother and Bart, plus the visit Skinner makes to the Simpson home contains some great dialogue and site gags.

Although Bart's adventures in France are very entertaining, I prefer the Adil scenes the most as they are funnier, particularly with the running gag of how unaware Homer is of the real situation.

A classic episode but this is dated

[CubsandCulture · 8/10 · 19 August 2021]

The Bart side of the episode still works. It is funny and engaging. It gentle pokes fun at how Americans see the French. There are plenty of cultural injokes to chuckle at, i.e. Driving through various French paintings. And Bart ends up learning a little about life.

But the Springfield side of the story is dated; it was sort of dated when it was released back in the 1990's. The tension in the episode is born from the Cold War and the sort of sleeper agents that Adil is parodying were a lot more common prior to computers being so integrated into society. (Hacking, ransomware is cheaper and more effective today as the 2010 Russian spy ring bust shows). This plot feels forced today.

Bart does France

[safenoe · 10/10 · 8 January 2024]

I remember watching The Crepes of Wrath when it debuted nearly 35 years ago, yes that long ago, and The Simpsons has pretty much stood the test of time. For me, in my humble opinion, it's the first 10 seasons which are the standout, although some episodes post-season 10 are worth watching.

Anyway, here Bart is sent to France as an exchange student and he ends up speaking French at the end to escape his captives who do some very bad things. The observations of France are quite humorous. Anyway, nine years after this episode the Bloodhound Gang went to Paris to film the video for their hit The Bad Touch.

A Few Good Moments

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 17 February 2022]

Bart blows up most of the toilets in the school (plus Skinner's mother) and is put in an exchange program. He is sent to France to live with an Albanian family (sort of). Meanwhile, a little Albanian boy comes to live with Bart's family. This leads to problems with Homer's interpretation of the security system at the power plant. There is some fun, but mostly it's sort of dull.

Not great

[studioAT · 2/10 · 27 February 2020]

For me this is a weaker episode from S1.

It has it's moments, but hasn't got that level of depth or heart I've seen from other episodes in a stellar S1.

This isn't a crepe it's just crap!

[snickzella · 1/10 · 1 September 2022]

Why does American TV hate the French so much?. Why does everyone in Springfield hate Bart?. This is yet another example of extremely dated nonsense involving Bart being sent to France as a Student exchange program. Why is he being sent to a pair of French criminals as part of that program? , Also why is Albania suddenly a enemy nation, was this left over from the cold war. This episode has no answers but a lot of truly mean spirted and witless humor. If they had a home alone feel or something involving Bart getting back at the French crooks, then it might have worked. Also, why was Albania suddenly a vilified nation. It was completely unnecessary. And of note, the jokes in this episode kind of suck. Too stupid even for the Simpson, which shouldn't suck because this show gave us some of the greatest moments in all of comedy.