The Spongebob Squarepants Movie DVD Review:

This was supposed to be the biggest day in SpongeBob's (Kenny) life because Mr Krabs (Brown) was opening a second Krusty Krab restaurant and he was sure that he would be made manager. This should have been a really bad day for
Sheldon J. Plankton (Lawrence), as his rival took more business from his restaurant, the Chum Bucket, but this time he had one more scheme up his sleeve 'Plan Z'. He is going to frame Mr Krabs for a crime he didn't commit and take over the restaurant business in Bikini Bottom. Only SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick Star/Fish (Fagerbakke) can save him.

Both children and adults rejoice, SpongeBob SquarePants has his own movie and he's ready to take the big screen by storm.

The cult Nickelodeon cartoon that is a hit with both the kids and the so called grownups gets his first big screen adventure and on this evidence, it
will be the first of many. The kooky, surreal world of Bikini Bottom transfers to the big screen with ease. Filled with slapstick, loads of gags, gratuitous butt shots and a couple of song and dance numbers, fans will rejoice as the feature length antics of their favourite sponge.

Playing more like an extended episode of the cult TV series, which isn't a bad thing, the movie's plot is a recipe for gags and highjinx. Essentially a
road trip movie, SpongeBob and Patrick have to travel to the mysterious and deadly Shell City to complete their mission and save Mr Krabs in the
process. The laughs and surreal humour come thick and fast but there is also an underlying message that makes the film have a slight bit of meaning for
the younger (and some older) audience members.

All of the vocal cast from the TV series transfer their talents to the big screen. Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke are as funny as ever vocalising
SpongeBob and Patrick. In the longer format, the two of them can really let loose, throwing joke after joke at the fans as SpongeBob and Patrick have
their high adventure. The rest of the vocal cast also have a lot of fun. Mr. Lawrence is fantastic as the diabolical Sheldon J. Plankton who plans to
take over the restaurant empire and then the world. There also good performances from celebrity guest voices by Alec Baldwin as hitman Dennis,
Jeffrey Tambor as King Neptune and Scarlett Johansson as his daughter, Mindy. Some fans may be disappointed with lack of screen time for Sandy
Cheeks, Gary, Squidward Tentacles and Mr Krabs but we do get loads more SpongeBob and Patrick to make up for this.

'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie' is really good fun. While the surreal humour might not be to everyone's taste, fans of the show will rejoice at
watching the feature length adventures of their favourite sponge. With a hilarious finale featuring a fight on the strangest boat you will ever see,
this is a family movie that both kids and adults will love and fans will treasure.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic with Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is extremely good. Animation always transfers fantastically onto DVD and this movie is no exception. Now you can visit Bikini Bottom is
glorious Widescreen with all its exuberant colours and design. The sound quality is also first rate, as SpongeBob and Patrick's adventures never
sounded so good.

BONUS FEATURES

The Absorbing Tale behind the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (18.15 mins)
Writer/Director Stephen Hillenburg, Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Clancy Brown (Mr Krabs), Mr Lawrence (Plankton), Jeffrey Tambor (King Neptune), Scarlet Johansson (Mindy), Alec
Baldwin (Dennis) and David Hasselhoff talk about bringing SpongeBob SquarePants to the silver screen. The featurette reveals how the character
was created and how the world and population of Bikini Bottom came to life. The cast and writer/director talk about their characters and vocal
performances, discussing the plot of the movie and the move into life action.

Case of the Sponge 'Bob' (14.47 mins)
Acclaimed oceanographer Jean-Michael Cousteau and SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg take you on an undersea adventure to look at the sea creatures that influenced the design of your favourite characters. You will see sea stars, plankton, crabs, octopus, squid, frogfish, coral reefs and of course,
real life sponges.

Animatics (20.31 mins)
Writer/director Stephen Hillenburg introduces the animated storyboards created for the movie. With recorded dialogue from the movie you can watch
the storyboards for 'SpongeBob's Dream Sequence', 'SpongeBob gets ready', 'Goofy Goobers', 'Bubble Party at the Thug Tug', 'Squidward discovers
Plankton's plot', 'Frogfish sequence', 'Now that we're men', 'SpongeBob & Patrick on the drying rack' and 'SpongeBob and Patrick meet Sandy on the
Surface (Deleted Scene).Saving the Surf (3.35 mins) Chad Nelson, Matt McClain and Steve Pezman from the Surfrider Foundation talk about how man made pollution is affecting the seas and beaches of the world.

Teaser Trailer (1.12 mins)
Watch the extremely funny teaser trailer for 'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie'.

OVERALL

Paramount has done a really good job with the DVD transfer of 'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie'. By not totally pandering to the children's market by
filling the disc with silly games and interactive material they have made the DVD appeal to fans, whatever their age. The only real missed opportunity
was the lack of a commentary track by either the writer/director or the vocal artists themselves. Just imagine SpongeBob and Patrick doing their own
commentary track, on for the sequel maybe.



Jamie Kelwick