Product: Spongebob Squarepants: Movie
Rating: 4.0
Intro to Spongebob Squarepants Movie 101
Having watched this with my child & company at the theater (and then at least 10 times at home), I can't escape putting a review here. All of the familiar slapstick absurdities of Spongebob are here. The joys of Bikini Bottom (yes, that's the name of the town!) are present as well. Mr. Krab's Krusty Krab fast-food joint (where Spongebob works as fry cook), Spongebob's bosom best buddy Patrick Star (as in starfish, 'though I've yet to see a pink one in nature), the square, schadenfreude-laden Squidward (cashier at the Krusty Krab).Others have mentioned it and I can't deny--it's difficult to take a 30 minute show broken down into two segments and weave a cohesive plot over an hour. This film manages to make fair go of it, keeping the laughs flowing with new material, situations and an actual (*gasp*) plot. There are new characters, especially the pride-filled King Neptune and his thoughtful daughter Mindy...but then again, Spongebob afficianados will remember the phrase uttered by Spongebob on many an occasion, "By Neptune's Crown!". This movie gives some life to that phrase, as the plot revolves around a dastardly plot by Plankton to steal Neptune's crown and Rule The Undersea! He's apparently moved on from coveting merely the Krabby Patty secret sauce by now.Positive messages about teamwork, friendship, not giving up, setting goals and then achieving them. Not too scary for the wee-wee ones--even scary put-ons end with a chuckle. Two thumbs up for me, this is a funny family film grown-ups with a quirky sense of humor will enjoy watching with their little ones. At least the first 11 times!