Plot: What’s it about?
The secret recipe of the Krabby Patty has remained a mystery for years, but Burgerbeard the pirate is determined to uncover the truth. The pirate has a powerful magic book that allows him to bend real life to his written words, so he is able to do the impossible and steal the secret recipe. Once the recipe is gone and a Krabby Patty shortage breaks out, Bikini Bottom quickly descends into chaos and dangers abound. Unable to best Burgerbeard and retrieve the recipe, Spongebob makes an unholy alliance with Plankton and a plan is soon hatched. If the group can somehow create a time machine, they can reverse this tragedy and restore order to Bikini Bottom. But a time machine is no simple task, especially when no one trusts Plankton, Patrick is having a mental breakdown, and Spongebob is, well…himself. Bikini Bottom seems to face a dark future, but the group works hard to forge ahead with the plan, as well as some backup options. But when the friends have to chase Burgerbeard onto dry land, can even they manage to withstand the madness the ensues?
As a huge fan of Spongebob, I am biased when it comes to this review. It took over a decade, but we finally have a new feature film and wow, this is a wild ride. Fans of the show are used to offbeat humor and that is never more true than here, thanks to a manic energy and madcap writing style. While perhaps not quite as unhinged as the first Spongebob movie, Sponge Out of Water is never normal and provides a consistent clip of the show’s signature tone. The characters are allowed to be bigger on the big screen, which means Plankton is a sight to behold, but the movie is faithful the show and fans should be pleased. I loved the animation once the dry land scenes arrive, with crisp and impressive CGI. It was cool to see these familiar characters presented in a fresh way, especially one that was so well crafted. The humor is rapid fire and odd most of the time, but the laughs are consistent and the movie never fails to entertain. This film isn’t going to earn the show new fans, but if you enjoy the show and want a bigger piece of the sponge, Sponge Out of Water is well worth a look.
Video: How’s it look?
I’ve reviewed a lot of movies in my day, but this is among the elite few that’s featured a realistic-looking sponge from the ocean floor! All kidding aside, those who are familiar with the “traditional” SpongeBob know that it’s 2D animation. Well this one turns it up a bit and we get the cast out of the water (hence the title of the movie). The 3D look and feel of the characters is, admittedly, a bit creepy but I managed to hold it together for the purposes of this review. Colors are bright and bold, the humans in the film (a bearded Antonio Banderas to name one) look the part and though there are some rather “out there” sequences, this essentially embodies everything we’d expect from a new to Blu-ray film. Parents/kids, whoever watches this won’t find a thing to complain about when it comes to how this looks.
Audio: How’s it sound?
I’d learned long ago not to judge a book by its cover when it came to audio and that holds true for this film. The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water simply oozes perfection in every way, shape and form. The cartoonish vocals of the “animated” cast are rich and pure, surrounds and dynamic effects are to die for and there’s an equal balance of sound that really creates a nice 360 degree atmosphere. Yes, you might see a sponge and a squirrel catapulted through the air, but don’t let the imagery fool you – this DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack is the bomb!
Supplements: What are the extras?
As a rule of thumb, most kids movies are rather featureless unless it’s a re-mastered Disney classic that’s being shelled out for sale once more. But let me tell you my friends, this one is packed to the gills (see what I did there?) with supplements and there’s quite a bit to cover. All of the features seem to be exclusive to the Blu-ray as the included DVD is featureless. Of note, there is a 3D version out there, though this review covers the 2D version.
- On the Surface – A series of half a dozen featureless that cover a wide variety of the film and its production.
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Out of His World – The cast and crew delve into the plot of the film with some emphasis on the characters and how they’ll interact in the “real world.”
When I Grow Up, I Want to Make Funny Sounds – A look at some of the faces, er…voices, behind our favorite sea creatures.
Becoming Burger Beard – Antonio, eh…how you say Banderas, waxes prolific on his character as well as his overly hairy wardrobe.
Making the Burger Mobile Chase Sequence – Pretty much that – how they made the sequence.
It’s Hip to Be SquarePants – No, he won’t be walking down a runway in Milan, but we get a look at the fashion in the film.
A Day in the Life of a Sponge – No, it’s not my autobiography, rather a more “artistic” look at Mr. Pants in black and white (and French, oui).
- Plankton Rules the World! – Sylvia Earle, an Oceanographer, dives deep and looks at the ocean – featuring plankton.
Bikini Bottom Confidential: Rock Stars of the Sea – Earle once again intrigues us with a look at some of the other things found in the sea.
International Sponge of Mystery: Meeting Bubbles – A scene in a foreign language. One of two.
International Sponge of Mystery: The Speech – A scene in a foreign language. Two of two.
- Thank Gosh It’s Monday – Spongebob celebrates Monday (I guess when you’re a sponge, you do that sort of thing).
SpongeBob Sing-Alongs – Three are included: Thank Gosh It’s Monday, Teamwork and Theme Song/Rap Battle.
The Bottom Line
Spongebob is back! I suppose in many ways he never left. Though the cartoon was way after my time, there’s no doubt that whatever allure it held for audiences is still there. The film nearly doubled its $75 million dollar budget at the box office and the Blu-ray features reference quality audio and video as well as a wealth of supplements. What further justification do you need to pick this up?
