The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

Nickelodeon's number one star SpongeBob SquarePants last made it to theaters in 2004. Things changed since then but the show's cast and 2D animation style haven't. One thing different? This big-screen entry, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, is available in 3D or Flatscreen.

It's the same as always in the undersea town of Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob is the fry-cook at The Krusty Krab restaurant, home of the Krabby Patty burger. Mr. Krabs keeps the Krabby Patty formula in his vault. Sheldon J. Plankton, restaurateur of the abysmal Chum Bucket, wants the formula for himself. Also in town are SpongeBob's best-bud Patrick Star, astronaut squirrel Sandy Cheeks and cynical Krusty Krab cashier Squidward Tentacles.

The evil pirate Burger-Beard (a live-action character played by Antonio Banderas) enters the scene. He acquires a magic book which realizes whatever text is written in it. The dastardly villain writes himself in-possession of the Krabby Patty Formula. The town descends into chaos and Mad Max aesthetics in a split-second. Really, it does!

Krabs accuses Plankton of the act but SpongeBob knows better. It's up to him to convince Plankton to help him find the formula before all is lost.

The film needs little effort to acquaint new viewers to the franchise. It's that kind of show. SpongeBob and Co.'s antics and eccentricities are sure to entertain young kids the most. I got a few good laughs from a few gags (including Burger-Beard's attempt to roll credits a half-hour in). If you know what you're getting into, you'll come out unharmed.

Once Burger-Beard steals the formula, he sits on the narrative sidelines until the SpongeBob cast comes to confront him. We don't even get much explained about his book. It felt like an extended segment of the show. At least it was 92 minutes, which meant it wasn't that long.

Antonio Banderas delightfully hams it up as Burger-Beard. Everything he says and does is with gusto. This pirate's bravado lets him look at danger and tell it to scram. One can tell that Banderas is having fun here.

SpongeBob's latest screen adventure is nothing but silliness. You'll get your money's worth if silliness is what you're looking for. But if SpongeBob's brand of overactive silliness isn't for you, don't fret. There's a few more family-oriented films on their way this year.