Film Reviews

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

• Rating:
• Director: Stephen Hillenburg
• Starring: Alec Baldwin
• Details: US/ 88 mins/ (U).

Although kids favourite SpongeBob SquarePants is about the last film you'd expect to be the subject of controversy, the movie adaptation of the long running television series has already attracted the ire of sections of the Christian far right. The reason? In their infinite wisdom, lobby groups, American Family Association and Focus on the Family decided that the eponymous, resolutely asexual, character could, in actual fact, be responsible for promoting the acceptance of homosexuality. Trite and rather unnecessary quibbles aside, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is a rather amiable adaptation of the hyperactive television programme which has captured the hearts of millions of kids and quite a few adults over the last few years (guilty as charged, your honour). The sparse plot follows our title character as he works for the restaurateur Mr Krabs (Clancy Brown) whose rivalry with fellow foodie Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) turns into an all out war. Of course, SpongeBob and his mate Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) get involved and before you know it, they're up to their necks in trouble.
Rare in that it actually seems to revel quite comfortably in its own foolishness, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is an energetic, infectious offering, never sacrificing its origins in favour of a pushy morale. Giving the kids what they want may seem obvious, but the fact that The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie has the good sense not to unnecessarily dilute what made it such a hit in the first place deserves to be commended.

Review by Garreth Murphy