Check Out the Trailer

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS is the funniest cartoon to hit TV since REN & STIMPY. The yellow sponge’s first venture onto the big screen is also one of the purely funny films of 2004.

Sheldon J. Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) has enacted Plan Z – his last ditched attempted to rule the sea. He steals King Neptune’s (Jeffrey Tambor, TV’s THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW) crown and frames Mr. Krabs for it. Neptune wants to kill Mr. Krabs, but his daughter Mindy (Scarlett Johansson, LOST IN TRANSLATION) convinces him to allow SpongeBob and his friend Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke, TV’s COACH) to travel the dangerous road to Shell City to recover the crown.

SpongeBob and Patrick must struggle throughout the film to overcome the label of being immature kids. The gags fly as fast as the TV series and the humor retains its juvenile parody style. In style, the film references REN & STIMPY as well as SCOOBY-DOO. From the opening parody of action flick openings to the closing song, the film is cute when it pokes fun at conventions and clichés.

SpongeBob and Patrick’s undying optimism is so loveable and funny that they win one over instantly. The flick’s bizarre fantasy world is totally fun, even though some parts get too silly for their own good. In the end, the film captures everything that the series offers and more. This is the best TV cartoon to big screen adaptation that I’ve ever seen.