The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

Cast: Voices of: Tom Kenny, Alec Baldwin, Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence, Jeffrey Tambor, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Clancy Brown, David Hasselhoff, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Stephen Hillenburg
Genre: Family/Comedy/Animated
Rated: G
Running Time: 87 Minutes

Hero. Legend. Sponge.

Synopsis:
There's trouble brewing in Bikini Bottom. Someone has stolen King Neptune's crown and it looks like Mr Krabs is the culprit! Though he's just been passed over for promotion, SpongeBob stands by his boss and along with his best pal Patrick, sets out on a treacherous mission to Shell City to reclaim the crown and save Mr Krabs life.

The journey takes SpongeBob and Patrick through some of the darker recesses of the ocean floor, including the Thug Tug, a rough and tough establishment where few fish dare to visit, and a freakishly massive monster-filled trench! And all the while the loyal pair are pursued by a relentless hitman named Dennis. Meanwhile back at Bikini Bottom, Plankton carries out his evil "Plan Z", designed to help him steal the top-secret Krabby Patty formula and ultimately rule the world.

Will our heroes make it to Shell City and back in time to save Mr Krabs from Neptune's wrath?

My Verdict:
SpongeBob Squarepants is not only a children's favourite cartoon character, but has a cult following amongst adults who have come to know and love the eternally optimistic SpongeBob and his friends that live in Bikini Bottom. For those of you who don't know, SpongeBob Squarepants is a 2D animated, cute, vivacious, yellow sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea, wears square cardboard shorts and works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab, a hamburger joint.

In 'The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie', SpongeBob dreams of becoming manager of the new "Krusty Krab 2", which its owner, Mr Krabs is about to open. But, SpongeBob misses out on a managerial position because according to Mr Krabs, he is too much of a child. Meanwhile, across town, Sheldon J. Plankton has opened the "The Chum Bucket" in opposition to the "Krusty Krab" but times are tough and he isn't seeing too many customers so he decides to steal the secret formula to krabby patties, using plan Z, after plans A - Y have all failed. Added to this is King Neptune, who arrives looking for Mr Krabs whom he believes stole his crown. King Neptune threatens to execute Mr Krabs, but here is when SpongeBob declares he will find the missing crown and return it safely within 6 days. And off SpongeBob goes, with his dopey starfish friend Patrick in tow, to search for the missing crown.

'The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie' is basically an extended television episode, with all the regular characters appearing as well as the introduction of some new ones. The journey SpongeBob and Patrick take to find the missing crown is an adventurous one that is often silly and totally inane which is typical for this character and even includes a great cameo by David Hasselhoff towards the end as he helps SpongeBob and Patrick find Shell City, their final destination. The movie is not totally 2D animation, but includes some real life footage that starts the movie and also includes some clay animation. Some of the events are a little bit scary as they encounter Dennis, the hitman, voiced by Alec Baldwin, which may even scare some of the youngest viewers. But it is many of the memorable quotes of this movie that make it so fun and enjoyable - as SpongeBob points out "you don't need a licence to drive a sandwhich".

'The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie' is one the whole family can enjoy, regardless of your prior knowledge of the character. There is a moral to the story regarding you can do anything no matter who you are, and it doesn't matter if you are a child, which is not hammered home relentlessly but referred to towards the end almost as a sidebar. This is essentially an entertaining, puns intended, joke-filled movie that moves along and makes for a fun time at the cinema.

Rating : B+

Christina Bruce