Customer Reviews

The Spongebob Squarepants Movie [VHS]

5 star:		(158)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

Relentlessly optimistic, drunk and defeated, man-child, sponge-man -- this movie has it all. Most of the parents in the audience didn't get it. But I've been an outspoken SpongeBob fan for years. Hell, I'll bet I like the television show even more than my children do -- and they like it a lot.

It's hard to describe this film, at least in a way that will do it justice. Is it great? In it's own twisted, surreal way, sure. It's littered with double entendres, to be sure, and a few nautical butt cheeks, too. I suppose the studio insisted on the latter. The bottom line is that we need SpongeBob, maybe more than we ever did. His good cheer in the face of disaster is downright inspirational. Plus, he can blow bubbles with the best of them.

The evil villain, Plankton, speaks for all of us when he says, "His chops are too righteous!"

The controversy over SpongeBob's sexual orientation has been quite absorbing but nowhere near as involving as this very funny movie based on the popular TV series on Nickelodeon. Just in case you've been living under a rock for the last five years, SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs and all the residents of Bikini Bottom have become the most hip (and funny) half hour this side of "The Simpsons". More importantly, it's a program that almost all family members can watch without becoming offended (well, except for those folks wondering about SpongeBob's sexuality). It's a fun way to spend an hour and a half with the kids. After losing a treasured promotion to manage the Krusty Krab 2 restaurant because he's just a kid, SpongeBob is the only person who can stop Plankton from taking over Bikini Bottom. Plankton resorts to Plan Z (having used every other plan in the alphabet) to frame Mr. Krabs for the theft of King Neptune's crown. The diminutive Plankton hopes to discover the secret to the Krabby Patty and ultimately rule the undersea world! Meanwhile, Spongebob and his dim witted friend Patrick must travel to the dreaded Shell City to recover the King's crown and stop Plankton before it's too late.

Featuring a marvelous cast of guest voices including Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development"), Scarlet Johansson ("Lost in Translation"), Clancy Brown ("The Shawshank Redemption"), Alec Baldwin and, of all people, David Hasselhoff, the film may lack the sparkle of the best episodes of the series but it more than makes up for this shortcoming with a number of witty gags. Kids will enjoy the antics of SpongeBob and Patrick while adult males will empathize King Neptune's attempts to hide his bald spot with his crown (he's desperate enough to resort to Hair in a Can at one point although that doesn't quite work out as planned) and envy David Hasselhoff as he uses his pecs to launch the duo back into the sea. There's also a serious message as Mindy the King's daughter encourages SpongeBob and Patrick to be kids and be OK with it.

Featuring a great transfer with bright and vivid colors, Bikini Bottom has never looked so, well, animated. A very sharp transfer with few digital artifacts to distract viewers from the absurd images, "Spongebob" looks better than any sponge has a right to. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix is used to good and sometimes very comic effect.

The 20 minute animatic segment gives viewers a peak into all the preparation work that went into producing the movie. Director Hillenburg's comments provide interesting and sometimes funny insights into the challenge of producing a movie much less a TV series as funny as this. The behind-the-scenes featurette is both charming and quite funny with a glimpse into everything from creating the absurd story at the heart of this film to the hilarious recording sessions featuring the voice cast. There's also a featurette The "THQ" game demo is actually quite fun but doesn't really provide that much of a taste as to what the game could do. The Case of Sponge "Bob" features Jean-Michel Cousteau in a tongue-in-cheek short documentary. We see an informative and fun discussion of real sponges with undersea footage narrated by Cousteau with writer/director Hillenburg. "Saving the Surf" features Chad Nelsen, Matt McClain and Steve Pezman founders of the Surfrider Foundation discussing the importance of keeping our environment clean and the impact of our pollution on the ocean and our beaches. The teaser trailer for "Submarine" features footage of "Das Boot", "U571" and "The Hunt for Red October" intercut with footage created for the cartoon trailer for "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie". There's also previews for other Paramount family friendly titles as well.

A funny visit with the denizens of the deep, "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" will keep you and the kids entertained. The film doesn't pander to kids and has just the right level of slapstick humor to keep adults entertained as well. Although it does have a serious message at its core, the film is a lot of fun.

Here is the summary of the movie:
In a complicated plot to get the Krabby Patty formula, Plankton steals the crown of Neptune, the undersea ruler, and lays the blame on Mr. Krabs. SpongeBob promises to travel to far-off Shell City with Patrick to retrieve the crown if Neptune will spare Mr. Krabs's life. With SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs out of the way, Plankton makes a grab for the secret formula.

Albert Einstein, a man of all seasons, once said: "The life of the individual has meaning only insofar as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful." Mr. Krabs has been unjustly accused of stealing King Neptune's stolen crown. SpongeBob SquarePants decides to find the real thief, even though he has not been chosen by Mr. Krabs for a promotion. This movie shows what a special individual SpongeBob is and I think he should be a role model for everyone, regardless of his aquatic, marine invertebrate sexual preferences.

Plankton steals the king's crown. Patrick and SB go to a dangerous city and get back the crown. Lots of tushy jokes.

Dad says: Also featured are David Hasslehoff's pecs, cute princess Mindy who has a heart, sundae binge drinking and secret plan Z in this kind-of coming of age movie.

The Spongebob Squarepants Movie has non-stop laughs and bizzare jokes are rare in modern TV cartoons.
Some people are saying "this is just a dumb kid's movie" and others are saying "this movie is more for adults than kids". Neither are true.
This is a 'family movie'. I don't think many kids know what 'family movie' means, there have been so few recently.
A 'family film' is a movie that is enjoyable for adults AND children. Most modern-day viewers are forced to believe that dumb films like "The Cat in the Hat" and "Shrek" are 'family movies' because they have kid's plotlines, although they are crammed with swear words and sexual references.
Pixar succeeded in making the best animated films ever made and they made more money then SHREK. And the Pixar films are rated G. What does that tell you? (The Incredibles is rated PG, but there were no swear words or sexual references in that either).
People have also said Spongebob is 'crude'. Well, there are burps and a few other gross jokes, but it's the most wholesome thing on TV, aside from Dora the Explorer and other shows made for children under age: four, but let's face it... NO ONE OVER FOUR WANTS TO WATCH THAT!
Besides, this is COMPLETELY innocent compared to Shrek, which has unlimited burping gags. No one can claim Spongebob is rude, if they own Shrek. (If you don't even claim Shrek is rude... well, what do you think IS rude? That's as bad as kid's movies get).
There are few new cartoons that are as enjoyable as Spongebob (The Fairly Oddparents, Tiny Toon Adventures, Duck Dodgers and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends are up there).
Bottom line: Does Spongebob deserve his reputation? I'd like to respond with a big, fat YES!!

SpongeBob, one of the better cartoons of the last 10 years or so, makes his movie debut with this one. Like another reviewer, I was a bit disappointed that many of my favorite characters did not appear as often as I would like, but hey, you cannot have everthing. This particular cartoon is one that can be enjoyed as a child or as an adult. I have been a big SpongBob fan from the beginning and was happy to see him make the big screen. All in all, I feel the character of SB will end up being one of the classics, along with Mickey, et al. Recommend this one highly - ENJOY!

The plot (no spoilers (well, sort of, but not really)): Plankton (once again) formulates a plan to steal the Krabby Patty Secret Formula. He realizes that he has gone through plans A through Y. Karen, his computer wife (going mobile this time around) asks about Plan 'Z'. Plankton finds the plan, and he starts to scheme. His plan: Steal King Neptune's crown, and make Mr. Krabs take the blame. It all goes along well, and Mr. Krabs becomes frozen in ice, and SpongeBob and Patrick must venture to Shell City to get the crown before Mr. Krabs is executed in 6 days. While they are away, Plankton sneaks into The Krusty Krab, and gets the formula, hatching his diabolical scheme to enslave all of Bikini Bottom! It's all up to SpongeBob and Patrick to "Get The Crown, Save The Town, And Mr. Krabs"!

I really hoped to enjoy this film when I heard that it was coming out. I have been a big fan of the show nearly since it started, and there was no doubt I was going to see this.

November 19th came, and it was time for the movie. My friend and I went with his little brother and sister. We watched the film with high expectations (not always a good thing, I know), and we all loved it! The characters were great, the humor from the show is more present than most of the new episodes, and it is a flat-out great movie for the fans.

Many people have complained that the humor is a little too grown-up for the kids, and is considerably crude at times. Obviously they must not watch the show, considering the humor is as blatantly obvious in the show as it is in the movie. Some of the jokes in the film, I highly doubt little kids would understand, anyways.

This film was definitely an enjoyment for me, from start to finish. It had great moments of humor, both crude and clean, and even had some bit parts that were sad (wait until the 'Shell City' scene). Definitely a pleasure for the fans of the show, and maybe even people who are just discovering it.

The Spongebob Squarepants Movie is great for all ages and packed with action, compassion, and laughs for the whole family!

when patrick said "we are the baby hunters,and don't think we don't know how to wee-dum-out."it was funny.