Spongebob Squarepants Movie: Are You Ready?

"I'm ready! Promotion! I'm Ready! Promotion!

In The Spongebob Squarepants Movie Mr. Krabs is opening a second Krusty Krab, due to the success of the first. And, of course he needs a new manager to run the restaurant. Who does he choose? Stodgy old Squidward? Or Krabby-Patty Obsessed Spongebob? Well, he makes the logical choice - Squidward. Afterall, Squidward is more adult-like, since he DOES listen to public radio. Spongebob has too much love for life and the simple things, like blowing bubbles and jelly fishing. There is no way he can handle the responsibility of running The Krusty Krab 2. But then Plankton, with the help of computer wife Karen, finds plan Z. He steals King Neptune's crown, frames Mr. Krab and takes over Bikini Bottom. With the help of King Neptune's daughter, Princess Mermaid Mindy, Spongebob and sidekick Patrick are the only ones willing and able to go to Shell City to find the crown, defeat the cyclops and save the day.

The movie has some live action parts. In the beginning you see pirates sailing the seas and they pull a treasure chest on board their ship. And the treasure chest is full of movie tickets to The Spongebob Movie. Then they break into the Spongebob Squarepants theme song. David Hasselhoff plays himself in the movie, running on the beach in his red bathing suit. He is extra corny as he helps Spongebob and Patrick get back to Bikini Bottom. After all, they can't swim as fast as this Baywatch alum. Shell City is a sundries shop that sells novelties made from dried out sea animals - starfish, clams, starfish. And the cyclops is a person in an old-fashioned diving apparatus with the huge metal helmet and boots.

Keep an ear open for some special voice talent! Alec Baldwin is the voice of Dennis, the fish hunter hired by Plankton to stomp on Patrick and Spongebob. Scarlett Johansson is Princess Mindy. Jeffrey Tambor is King Neptune. Other voice credits include Tom Kenny as the voice of Spongebob, Clancy Brown as the voice of Mr. Krabs, Rodger Bumpass is the voice of Squidward, Bill Fagerbakke is Patrick Star and Douglas Lawrence is Plankton.

The movie's soundtrack will just invade your mind. It's fun, it's childlike, it fits Spongebob perfectly. It's always great and not at all embarrassing when I am walking with my children at the mall or in public and singing, "I'm a goofy goober yah. You're a goofy goober yah. We're all goofy goobers yah. Goofy goofy goober goober yah!" And "Now That We're Men" is catchy too, as Spongebob and Patrick travel through this spooky, scary trench to get to Shell City. They impress the monsters with their singing and knee-slapping routine. Even my son tries to follow their act!

Other songs include "SpongeBob SquarePants Theme" performed by The Pirates, "Hawaiian March", "Steel Licks", "Goofy Goober Song", "Vibe Sting", "Steel Sting", "SpongeBob Theme" performed by Avril Lavigne, "Drowsy Reef", "You Better Swim" performed by Motorhead, "Song Dedicated to the Giant Squid of the World", "Now That We're Men", "Here I Go Again", "Goofy Goober Rock", "Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody", "I'll See You in Hawaii, "Ocean Man", "SpongeBob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy", "Just a Kid" and the always catchy "The Best Day Ever". We have that last one on my IPOD for the kids to listen to during walks.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Special features include Case of the Spongebob: Children are looking for Spongeboband Bikini Bottom on the map. Jean-Michael Cousteau tries to help. But he then realizes that Spongebob is not real. So then Cousteau talks about real sponges, starfish, sea stars, plankton and other life under the sea. There are also interviews with the cast from the movie. It's totally worth watching, as Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development, Hellboy) explains how he has trouble relating to King Neptune since he is not bald. "Thinning!"

MORE
This 87 minute movie came out into theaters in 2004. Directed and written by Stephen Hillenberg, who also writes for the television show. It won in 2005 an ASCAP Award.

TO CLOSE
I really enjoy watching this with my son. He sings with the songs and dances. Spongebob is child-like and entertaining and is a reminder to us all never to lose our enjoyment of the little things - icecream, bubbles and best friends.