Product: Spongebob Squarepants: Movie
Rating: 4.0
Thorougly Cute And Funny Movie Marred By A Predictable Plot
"The SpongeBob Sqarepants Movie" is an incredibly cute and funny film with some hilarious inside jokes and a message that is not preachy, a rare find for a kids movie. The big problem with "SpongeBob" is that the plot is way too generic. It feels used and dirty, like it's been used a few too many times before finally coming to this movie. I believe that it would have worked much better without a plot. Just like the TV show. I always thought of the television series as the underwater, animated "Seinfeld". I liked the down moments were the plot was not being referenced alot more than the plot driven moments. There is one other quibble that I have about this film. It is that Sandy (the squirrel), and Gary (the cat-snail), are hardly in it. Sandy is seen once in the middle, saying something that is intelligible. But that is it for the bad things that I have to say about this otherwise hilarious and thoughtful movie. The things people are saying is that this movie makes SpongeBob look gay, and that he is promoting an alternative life style. Wait a minute! He is not a homosexual! I don't know were people get that, from his voice or the way he acts, but that is incredibly stereotypical. What are people ging to say next? Mr. Incredible promotes steroid use? I think that if the Christian's are picking on this movie, a KIDS film, they should at least acknowledge the gratuitous violence in "The Passion Of The Christ". The prime audience of this film may be off just a bit. Although it is marketed as a kids movie, it may be more for adults, as some of the humor is a bit more sophisticated. As it may not be as sophisticated as, say, "Sideways" or "The Life Aquatic" (both great, by the by), this movie has more references to older movies and TV shows (I dare you to look for the lone ranger parody, and the KISS comics parody towards the end), and less fart and vomit humor. None, actually, except for the opening scene. I enjoyed the subtelties and the sophisticated humor, but the stuff that goes over kids heads causes fidgets and mad adults in the seat behind or in front of them. The kids that go to this movie should be mature and old enough not to kick seats. Right there it makes you wih that the movie was called "Seed Of SpongeBob".The plot revolves around one SpongeBob Sqarepants (expertely voiced by Tom Kenny) and his friend Patrick. SpongeBob works at the Krusty Krab, and hopes to be named manager of the Krusty Krab 2. However, he is beaten out b Sqidward Tentacles (Rodger Bumpass). All torn up, SB and Patrick get drunk off of Gooberberry Sunrises at the duos' favorite establishment, the Goofy Goober Ice Cream Shop. Meanwhile, Plankton, the evil little green guy, is plotting to take over Bikini Bottom, the creatures city of residence, and to open an establishment of his inferior version of the Krusty Krab, the Chum Bucket, all over the city. In order to do this, he steals King Neptune's crown. His daughter Mindy (Scarlett Johannson), helps SB and Patrick go and retrieve it. All the while, they are chased by a series of dangerous things, most notably a hitman nmaed Dennis (Alec Baldwin), whom has been hired by Plankton to kill the pair. I guess that it is important to say that King Neptune accused Mr. Krabs of stealing his crown, and gives the two five days to get it back and prove Krabs innocent, or Mr. Krabs will be executed.So that's it in terms of plot and execution (no pun intended). The rest is all a series of vignettes puncuated by a plot point every several minutes. But this is a truly wonderful and fairly original movie. Go into it with an open min, and enjoy it for what it is.Rated PG For Some Language, Mild Crude Content, A Brief Drug Joke, And Some Comic, Surreal Action