The SpongeBob Movie : Sponge Out Of Water

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE : SPONGE OUT OF WATER

Director : Paul Tibbett

Year : 2015

Genre : Animation

Rating : ****

 

The little sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea reunites on the big screen with Patrick, Squidward, Mr Krabs and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang for 'Sponge Out Of Water', the long awaited sequel to 2004s very funny and very entertaining 'The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie'. The film sees SpongeBob teaming up with his nemesis Plankton to traverse the length and breadth of the ocean, land and universe in search of the hallowed Krabby Patty formula which mysteriously disappears during one of the tiny villains daily raids on his restauranteur rivals establishment, plunging Bikini Bottom into a 'Mad Max'-esque apocalypse. Along the way, the two encounter everything from the creepy twins from 'The Shining' in ice cream form, candy-floss induced hallucinations and even an intergalactic dolphin who oversees the movements of the planets voiced by 'House Of Fools' alumni Matt Berry. And that's just for starters!

As was the case with 'The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie', 'Sponge Out Of Water' continually fizzes with hilarious sight gags, ingenious pun based humour and downright psychotropic surrealism all in one colourful, zany cocktail and while it may not be as consistently funny as it's brilliant 2004 original, the film is still one of the better comedies I have seen so far this year. The live action final act featuring a burger-obsessed pirate played by the scene-chewing Antonio Banderas admittedly lacks the innate charm of the animated underwater escapades but still has enough energy, excitement and jokes to keep it's audience of both kids and adults completely amused. Strange, bizarre, cute and completely without pretention or ideas above it's station, 'Sponge Out Of Water' doesn't try to force a patronising message upon its viewers like so many of its animated counterparts but exists for the sole purpose of making people laugh. In my opinion, that is something quite special indeed.