Synopsis
Passed over for promotion to manager, SpongeBob SquarePants is ticked at Mr. Krabbs, butnot to the point of wishing him dead. That is the fate that awaits his employer, after he is framedby Plankton for the theft of King Neptune’s crown. SpongeBob and Patrick must brave no endof dangers on their long journey to Shell City to recover the crown. On the way, they encountereverything from a hit man named Dennis (voiced by Alec Baldwin) to monsters, to DavidHasselhoff (as himsel…).
This here flick is stupid in precisely the right ways. I mean that as a most sincerecompliement. The movie is silly from start to finish, very much in the spirit of the TV series, andsaid silliness has a joyful innocence, as well as a lunatic pace that wouldn’t be out of place inthe classic Warner Bros. cartoons. Sometimes, all a movie should do is deliver a snorting goodtime, allowing us all to be crazy kids for an hour and a half, and this effort delivers inspades.
Audio
The sound is noticeably better than on any of the TV series’ DVD releases. Finally, surroundis being used to full effect. The sound is enveloping, and the placement of the effects is superb (afine example is the moment when Patrick comes sailing in on a rope, and the sound follows hisjourney from rear left to front right).
Video
The widescreen picture looks just about perfect. The colours are cheerful and bright, thereis no grain or edge enhancement visible, and the image is razor sharp. All of this should beexpected of an animation release, but the fact is that this is sometimes not the case. No problemshere.
Special Features
No commentary, and the extras are actually a bit disappointing, tending to be featurettes thatgo over the same ground repeatedly. “The Absorbing Tale Behind The SpongeBobSquarePants Movie” is probably the strongest of the featurettes, giving a full account of thecharacter’s origin. This is repeated, in more silly form, in “The Case of the Sponge ‘Bob’”, whichropes Jean-Michel Cousteau into the silliness (this is rather more straightforwardly promotional).“Saving the Surf” is a straight-faced, environmental featurette. There is a storyboard presentation,complete with voice performances. Also present are the (hilarious) theatrical teaser and a fewmore ads. For DVD-ROM, there is a game demo. The menu’s main screen is animated andscored.
Closing Thoughts
While more substantial features would have been nice, the film is a delight, and the sameis true of the transfer.
Special Features List
- 2 Making-of Featurettes
- “Saving the Surf” Featurette
- Storyboard Animatic
- Teaser Trailer
- Game Demo
