The Flipcritic

THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE has got to be one of the silliest, goofiest, most rambunctious attempts at kiddie fare in recent memory. Its heroes reek of juvenile joviality and daring childishness. And yet, I liked it. No... I loved it. Despite its apparent idiocy, it's damn funny, in an immature sort of way. So sue me.

If you haven’t figured out who SpongeBob is dear reader, you’re in luck (or perhaps out of it). Brought to life by that vocal virtuoso of cartoons Tom Kenny, he is that unmistakable Nickelodeon icon, an animated absorption pad filled not only with water, but boundless optimism and cheerful naiveté. He lives at the bottom of the ocean, the town of “Bikini Bottom” to be exact, and works as a cook at "The Krusty Krab", home of the most mouth-watering undersea sandwich, the Krabby Patty.

The Krusty Krab’s success can be attributed to a secret recipe, kept guard by its creator and manager Eugene Krabs (Clancy Brown... yes that hulking actor known for sinister roles). Though his name conjures images of a cute venereal parasite, he is a kind old… crab, and has named SpongeBob as employee of the month for, count ‘em, 374 consecutive times. You would think that this dedication would be justly rewarded, but no. The role of manager for a newly opened Krabby Patty outlet (creatively called “The Krusty Krab 2”) is handed on to his friend and coworker Squidward Tentacles (Rodger Bumpass... not a mispelling). SpongeBob handles the news pretty well, if you consider getting a hangover from ice cream well.

As SpongeBob handles the bad news, Mr. Krabs’s nemesis, Plankton schemes to unleash his plan of all plans (Plan Z), to steal the Krabby Patty formula and, not wasting any time, rule the world. With a voice and ambition inversely proportional to his puniness, he initiates his conspiracy by stealing the King Neptune’s crown, and leaving the blame to Mr. Krabs. The lord of the oceans (wonderfully voiced by Jeffrey Tambor), who values his crown more for cosmetic reasons ("Thinning!"), opts to execute Mr. Krabs, but his daughter Mindy (Scarlett Johansson of LOST IN TRANSLATION) together with SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick Starfish (Bill Fagerbakke) beg to spare his life. Hence, SpongeBob and Patrick are tasked with recovering King Neptune’s crown, and in a short time due to Patrick’s poor negotiation skills.

Trying to describe why a deliriously crazy cartoon such as this works well is hard to do, as I have already described it to be ridiculous. So let’s point out what it is not. Though it is silly and immature, it is never cynical or mean-spirited. When characters berate each other, their insults are always humorous banter, reflecting a childlike innocence absent of bad intentions. Like a toddler sticking out his tongue and making a funny face, it is a youthful teasing pleasure.

Another thing the movie is not is topical. Unlike ROBOTS or SHARK TALE, the movie is virtually empty of nudging/winking references to popular culture. Thank God I don’t have to listen to another boy-band, Brittney, Michael Jackson, anti-American, (insert you citation here), related joke. It knows how to create its own humor and doesn’t give a damn whether you like it or not. The movie has a quiet confidence about its childishness.

The last most notable aspect of film that I admired is its abundance of non-sequiturs. From the film’s beginning scene with pirates, to Dennis (Alec Baldwin, who probably gives the best cartoon villain voice I have heard since Megatron), a biker/assassin Plankton assigns to exterminate SpongeBob. From how our heroes get past monstrous beasts (mermaid magic?), to their escape from Shell City (a reference to Shell Beach of DARK CITY?) and its menacing creature, both of magnificent cheesiness. Down to a surprise cameo whose assistance is so outlandish that I just had to laugh at the film’s audacious stupidity. These surprises put us off-balance, making the movie continuously intriguing, wringing out more intrigue that it deserves.

One of the two things you can’t argue in film is comedy. If something doesn’t make you laugh, no one can tell you why it’s funny. If THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE isn’t completely to your liking, I completely understand why. But consider this, though its characters are puerile, its methods are not. It understands the kid in all of us, and celebrates it refreshingly, without negativity or desperation. When SpongeBob takes on Plankton’s forces near the end, by invoking Twisted Sister and Van Halen (“His chops are too righteous!”), he truly does rock.

Posted by FLIPCRITIC at April 9, 2005 02:53 PM