The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

There are a couple of factors that come into play when TV cartoon characters have their big screen appearances. The biggest one being that the cartoon became so popular, a movie needed to be made. Sometimes it also signals the end of the series. The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004) was originally creator's Stephen Hillenburg's finale to the TV series. However, after exceeding box office predictions, Spongebob was renewed for several seasons later. One would think after that showing would also warrant another big movie to be made soon after. Well it came,...surprisingly really late compared to how well received movies get a green lit sequel so quickly afterward. Sometimes, though the time is worth the wait and this can be said for Spongebob's 2nd big screen entry with some of the usual flaws (most obvious being continuity).

Like many other Spongebob episodes and the movie before this, Plankton is up to his old tricks again; attempting to steal Mr. Krabs' secret Krabby Patty formula. Except this time, there's more going on involving the secret formula than even Plankton knows. Out of nowhere, Krabs' secret recipe vanishes among the city of Bikini Bottom when a mysterious individual named Burger Beard (Antonio Banderas) enters the picture. With that, the city of Bikini Bottom descends into chaos, so Spongebob decides he needs to find a way of getting the recipe back in order to restore his hometown into a tranquil society. The writing headed by Glenn Berger and Jonathan Aibel who were also the brains behind Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Monsters Vs Aliens (2009) accomplished what most fans of the series should enjoy. And although Stephen Hillenburg is not directing this time, his right hand man Paul Tibbitt is.

As an overall presentation there aren't many issues with this production. One of the most notably different things about this movie is that it doesn't exactly stay in line with the previous story of the last film. It's really difficult whether to classify this is a sequel or not. It feels like more of a reboot (for those who are debating). Nonetheless this is a minor flub. All the memorable voice-actors from the TV show return once again to voice their undersea counterparts and that's always important. Antonio Banderas as Burger Beard was certainly an interesting choice only because who could've thought Banderas could play such a convincing pirate? He proved himself of that and for his age, he still gets around quite well (which was also proved in The Expendables 3 (2014)). The dialog also leads to number of funny moments, all of which each main character gets even screen time to make a funny. Many of which these moments break the 4th wall.

This also can be a weak point unfortunately in the screenplay because being silly is fun, but the comedy sometimes goes a bit overboard. What the first film has that this one doesn't is a sense of realism. Here, some scenes get a bit nonsensical to where it denies the universe that The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004) established. The reasons behind these frivolous events are explained, which is appreciated, but this is what detaches this entry from its last and what makes it questionable to whether it is a sequel or not. Then again, with these outlandish ideas come alternative animation visuals. For Spongebob's traditional animation sequences, the scenes are perhaps even more honed than the first entry; it looks crisp, clear and bright. Yet, what stands out even more is the live-action animation (also directed by Mike Mitchell, best known for directing Sky High (2005)). The character textures and 3D renderings look very well unified in their own right. Spongebob and friends almost look touchable and that's awesome.

Next in line with that are some very entertaining action sequences. This is more of the focus when the story hits its third act but it's worth the wait. Honestly for a Spongebob feature, seeing this much action never seemed like a possibility or interest the producers would ever want. Case in point, that was an incorrect assumption. A number of action sequences actually become quite inventive with how the conflict ensues. Well done. Phil Meheux's cinematography for the live-action scenes are also well constructed. Seeing that he was also the guy with the eye in The Mask of Zorro (1998),...which also had Antonio Banderas, seems only fitting. Much of the camera shots are well lit and wide enough to get a clear view of the scenery. John Debney, a composer who has previously scored multiple family comedy and action related films maintains his style by making the scenes appropriate where they need to be while including the Spongebob theme. Although there is one scene that doesn't belong to Debney which is where the film crew directly takes a snippet of Ennio Morricone's music from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). This is still fun though.

Spongebob's second big screen outing is rightfully made bigger and more profound. The animation is more spot on, the returning voice-actors / live-action performance from Banderas, action and comedy all work hand in hand to make a fun ride. Occasionally though, it does go out into left field a bit more than its predecessor.

This movie wasn't as good as the original movie (mainly because it felt like an hour and a half long episode), but I have to admit that the comedy in this movie was 110% top notch and better than all of the episodes that came after the original movie. When I heard that Stephen Hillenburg returned for the movie, I was excited. However, I can definitely tell that his sense of humor has changed (not in a bad way, though)

For example, Seasons 1-3 (Golden Era of SpongeBob) had some adult humor, mixed in with cartoonish humor for the more kid-friendly side. The original movie was also as such.

Season 4-9 were just straight bland cartoons. Nothing really funny, just Spongebob and Patrick laughing annoyingly for a 30 minute time slot, with the plot being something either rehashed, or just straight bland or predictable.

This movie, however, was WAY different than anything SpongeBob related I've ever seen. The comedy that Stephen Hillenburg brought back to the table was very different than we've seen in Seasons 1-3. The jokes in this movie made me think I was watching a movie like Airplane or Top Gun, the jokes just being unpredictable in the stupidest way, which was extremely funny. For example, there's a part where Plankton tells SpongeBob "Wait! Hold your thoughts!" and SpongeBob is then seen, literally holding a thought bubble, just stupid unpredictable comedy like that. I appreciate that, and love that it is refreshing. There were also some suggestive themes in the movie, so the adult appeal is definitely back!

On the kid side, it was also EXTREMELY different than I've ever seen in SpongeBob. At first, I didn't like how over the top and WEIRD this film was on the kid friendlier side, but I stopped and realized that kids from 1999 and kids from 2015 are ENTIRELY different and have different appeals. After realizing this, all of the randomness and overall WEIRDNESS in this movie made sense. Instead of following the same boring and bland formula from seasons 4-9, someone in the writing staff must have finally said "Listen, we need to catch the appeal of kids today. If we're going to make kids interested in our show, we need to pull them in." and I have to say that it definitely did. I know what the kids are into these days (not trying to sound old), and SpongeBob definitely pulled it off in this new movie.

With an entirely different, hilarious, and refreshing comedy stance than seasons 1-3, and a huge attempt at actually appealing to kids of 2015 rather than following a bland formula, I have to say that Season 10 is going to be one of the best seasons since the show started. It will reel in kids again, as well as appealing to adults with classic humor and unpredictable comedy. I feel as if the entire show is going to be COMPLETELY different, and it will definitely be noticeable!

In a nutshell: Loved the movie, comedy was refreshing and hilarious, the kid friendlier side I thought was stupid, but you have to realize that kids in 2015 are different than kids from 1999.

I was never really into Spongebob as a kid or, stoned out teenager. I was more of a Rocco's modern life guy. When is he coming out with a movie? But you don't need to be a fan of the cartoon before, to love the movie now.

Half 2D animation like the TV show, half live action with Spongebob and his friends done in 3D CGI, Antonio Banderas plays a pirate captain of a ship telling what feels like another episode of Spongebob with Plankton's new attempt on trying to steel the formula for Krabby patties to make the Chum Bucket better. Than to flip the script on us, the pirate captain steels the formula forcing the gang to travel to the surface to get it back.

It's a funny cartoon style comedy. It's been a while since I've seen some slap stick cartoon animation and the sponge delivers squeezing the laughter right out of you (pun). It was a lot of little giggles leading up to a few big laughs. You can't help it. A lot of smart people worked hard to make these guys real stupid.

And I love it when animation goes to the limit with it's story telling. Spongebob had a very surrealistic feel. Just like the cartoon, it was like I was on something but don't need to be to enjoy the fun.

And that was what the cartoon was in a nutshell, fun. Playful for all audiences no matter what the age. Total good time at the movies.

This is my first meeting with Spongebob, as I have never seen the show or the previous movie. I was somewhat familiar with it, as anyone exposed to internet popular culture would be, but not enough to know any of the characters by anything but looks. The movie did a great job in establishing everything I needed to know.

I loved how it combined cartoons, live action and CGI. It was flawless. And I was amazed that they dared to have so much of the movie in plain old hand animation. I enjoyed the plot, but I sometimes wished they would have made it a bit more complex, as that could safely have been done without making it harder to understand for children.

The first part of the movie seems like what could have been a regular episode, with small Banderas-breaks in between. The latter part is the fish out of water-story, which could probably have worked just as well without the build up from the first part.

I'm sure children loves this movie, and if you're open to silly characters breaking the fourth wall, you'll have no trouble watching it with them.

It's been a decade since the first film, definitely a long wait for the fans. That film was a hit, but I don't know why it took so long for the second. Honestly, I loved this one too, albeit I'm not a die-hard fan, just a supporter. One of the beautiful cartoon universe with unique characters that can entertain all ages. The new addition, especially for this film only, the Antonio Banderas did his part wonderfully. Never seen before stunts in SpongeBob world that comes in the final battle.

Whenever I review an animation movie, I usually bring 2D and 3D animation topics to denote how the technology has transformed. 'Asterix' from France, 'Doraemon' from Japan, and recently America's own 'Mister Peabody' remodelled in 3D and saw tremendous success. So why not SpongeBob, but only for a small portion they have tried and it was awesome. Most importantly the story blended well with the twist in the character reformation.

This movie is in a second batch queue for the Oscar race, that mean a slim chance to get a nominee, but I don't think it will make. That does not mean the movie is bad, it was very good, so entertaining and super funny. Simply not an Oscar material, that's all. If anyone hasn't seen it yet, I absolutely suggest to try it out. I hope it won't take another 10 years for the next movie in the series.

8/10