‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water’ Squeezes Out More Fun

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Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water” squeezes another big-screen adventure out of America’s favorite undersea fry cook, and introduces some tantalizing comic possibilities that ramp up the series – including winking meta references – but it’s ambitions remain distinctly small scale.

It’s essentially a super-sized episode of the animated series, and that’s OK. This one boasts the additions of 3D and Antonio Banderas at his scallywag-iest as a pirate named Burger Beard. That fact that I chuckled to myself while writing the name “Burger Beard” may tell you something about my opinions on Mr. Squarepants (voiced by Tom Kenny) and the other residents of Bikini Bottom.

On Dry Land: The Gang Poses in ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water’
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

Spongebob belongs to that upper echelon of animated series that work for both children and adults – and dads may find themselves chuckling right along with their little ones. It’s a place where references to Stanley Kubrick and seagulls in a porta potty can reside comfortably alongside one another. The film begins after Burger Beard navigates an island of booby traps to get his hands on the mysterious book of the film. Then while surrounding by yammering CGI seagulls, he spins the tale of Spongebob, but he appears to be able to change the story by rewriting the book as he goes.

While much has been made of Spongebob’s trip onto dry land and his computer generated makeover, this is actually only a relatively quick sequence at the finale – much of the movie takes place in the familiar confines of Bikini Bottom. When the secret recipe for Krabby Patties goes missing, Bikini Bottom suffers a complete breakdown of civilization. Before you can say plankton, it has devolved into a “Mad Max”-style post-apocalyptic world where anarchy and superstition reigns supreme – and Mr. Krab is ready to sacrifice his hard working fry cook to the deities of the deep to bring back his cash cow.

Spongebob reluctantly teams up with former nemesis Plankton, to lead an expedition to the surface to recover the recipe. As luck would have it, it has been stolen by the pirate Burger Beard – he’s using it to launch his own pirate-themed food truck. When Mr. Krab sees Burger Beard selling his Krabby Patties for 8.99 a pop, he grumbles, “I wish I’d thought of that.”

Burger Beard (Antonio Banderas) in ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water’
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

The jokes fly fast and furiously, there are puns, visual gags, and silliness galore – they even get help from a talking alien dolphin who somehow controls the planets (voiced by Tim Curry no less). The sandy beachfront enclave above ground isn’t that different from the underwater enclave of Bikini Bottom, and the film treats them both the same attitude of cheerful cartoon anarchy.

The ambition of the “Spongebob” series has always been to entertain. It knows the value of good bathroom humor as well as anyone, but its just one of the jokes in the comedy arsenal. This is a movie adaptation refreshingly free of life lessons and morals. You wouldn’t want to gorge yourself on it, but once in a while it can be quite a treat.

By SPIKE WALTERS Contributor HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]