Lewin OngMovie Review: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
Sponge Out of Water proves once again that you should never trust a trailer. Boasting CGI-animated onshore superhero escapades with the much beloved crew of underwater characters (and 1 squirrel), this is a very different story from the usual Spongebob shenanigans,
Sponge opens with the pirate Burger Beard (Antonio Banderas) prancing around a la Jack Sparrow on an island in search of hidden treasure. This treasure is said to be in the form of a magical tome that contains the story of Bikini Bottom. As if voicing the viewers’ wishes, Burger Beard’s seagull band urges and begs the pirate to reel the story to Spongebob (Tom Kenny) and his friends.
Despite the burger-making pirate mischiefs and the promised superhero-esque adventure from the trailers, the film carries on with zany wackiness fans are used to on television. Plankton (Mr Lawrence) tries to steal the Krabby Patty Secret Formula from Mr Krabs (Klancy Brown), a done-to-death conflict that adds nothing new to the franchise.
If anything, this follow-up to the 2004 movie seems to bring the series back to its season 1-3 roots, with the return of creator Stephen Hillenburg, who stepped down as writer after the first movie, but is now slated to return on the show.
With the first movie criticized for only focusing on Spongebob and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) Sponge learns from its predecessor’s mistakes by cameoing forgotten characters like Spongebob’s school bully, Mrs Puff and other familiar Bikini Bottomites. They display innate 4th wall awareness as they walk away during the film’s climax with a fish saying: “Alright, all secondary characters come with me.”
Plankton’s antagonist status from the first movie and the series was also blurred as he and Spongebob are forced to join forces, a notion once explored way back in the 90s in the 10th episode of the very first season. “Team Work”, the song our yellow porous hero breaks out into to impart the value of teamwork to his one-eyed foe, would definitely remind viewers of the iconic “F.U.N.” song.
Spongebob aficionados may also recall the episode titled “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V” where the main cast gains superpowers and joins the Sponge-verse’s Justice League to battle evil. This may be a huge “what could’ve been” for the film’s audience. Pity that only the measly, 20-minute climax of Sponge was actually spent out of water with super-powered battles.
Interestingly, the credits include a heartwarming tribute to the late Ernest Borgnine, who voiced Mermaid Man, the original superhero of Bikini Bottom.
Overflowing with charming silliness, signature wit and funky jams like “Squeeze Me” (courtesy of Pharrell Williams’ band, N.E.R.D.) Sponge has something fun for everyone: a great family film for both kids and parents this coming March holidays.
Stills from IMDB
GIFs from spongebobmovie.com
Rating: 3.5/5
Information:
Release Date: March 5
Runtime: 92 minutes
Language: English
Censorship rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Comedy
Director: Paul Tibbitt
Main Cast: Antonio Banderas, Clancy Brown, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence