The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie Movie Review: By Adam Mast, ZBoneMan.com

SpongeBob SquarePants is my kids’ cartoon of choice. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. What’s really special about the show though, is that my wife and I love it almost as much as they do. And this seems to be the case with many other parents, and as an end result, Spongebob has become one of the most successful Nickelodeon shows ever. It was only a matter of time before the quirky yellow one and his pals would make the jump to the big screen.

For those of you who may not be familiar with this show and it’s odd animated universe, allow me to give you a little insight. SpongeBob SquarePants lives in a pineapple under the sea, alongside a cast of equally bizarre yet endearing characters. He spends most of his days working at a restaurant called the Krusty Crab, and living it up with his loony starfish buddy Patrick.

In his first cinematic adventure, SpongeBob leaves the lovely confines of Bikini Bottom, and sets out to retrieve a stolen crown so that it might be returned to it’s rightful owner, the stern King Neptune (Jeffrey Tambor). Of course the mission wouldn’t be the same without a sidekick, so the mischievous Patrick joins SpongeBob on his quest.

Like the TV show, this movie is a trip and a half. SpongeBob SquarePants is no ordinary cartoon. It’s underlined with a truly eccentric sensibility, and the film uses that to it’s utmost advantage. This big screen version is perfectly fine for the little ones, but the adults in the audience are more likely to laugh out loud.

Three sequences in particular really cracked me up. I absolutely adored the live action opening in which a ship full of pirates gleefully sing The SpongeBob SquarePants theme song. The first five minutes or so of this picture sort of reminded me of Robert Altman’s underrated take on Popeye.

There’s a great bit that features SpongeBob and Patrick getting sloppy drunk after eating ice cream of all things. Completely odd, but laugh out loud hilarious.

I also loved the final ten minutes of the picture thanks mostly in part to a hysterical supporting performance by a muscular David Hasselhoff who helps SpongeBob and Patrick in the final part of their quest. I only have one thing to say about the Baywatch star and his work here; OSCAR NOMINATION! Between this turn and his role in John Waters’ Dirty Shame, he’s got all genres covered.

Quite obviously, the strongest aspect of this entire movie (and the show on which it’s based) is it’s strange sense of humor. Creator Tom Kenny isn’t interested in cheap laughs. Most of the humor is derived form the strangest of places, and that’s what’s most appealing about his universe. I mean really. The idea of a sponge living in a pineapple under the sea is more bizarre than anything else, but it works. It’s darn funny.

While SpongeBob himself is a riot, I have to give a special shout out to Patrick who just about steals the film with his goofy bravado. Whether it’s those dopey, lovesick facial expressions he’s making or watching him strut his stuff in a go-go dancer outfit, Patrick is the Art Carney to SpongeBob’s Jackie Gleason. No, scratch that. They’re both Art Carney.

SpongeBob SquarePants the Movie is not quite lively enough to sustain a ninety minute running time (I’m sure my kids would disagree with me–they were entranced by the entire film). Some jokes do wear a little thin, and the pacing is not always on, but that’s the chance you take when you attempt to stretch out a short premise to a feature length running time. Thankfully, more often than not I found myself chuckling at this nutty, most original adventure. This isn’t The Incredibles good, but I really liked it a lot. And it’s a much funnier underwater adventure than the recent Shark Tale.

Grade: B

Adam Mast, ZBoneMan.com