AniMat's Reviews - The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water is the 58th episode of AniMat's Reviews and the 2nd episode of Season 2015.
Oh who has return, with a another film or two, SpongeBob SquarePants! As AniMat reviews the Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (created by Stephen Hillenburg). He gives it a favorable review, and scoring it with a 8/10 for these reasons
- The Story: Though this film may have some recycled elements from past SpongeBob works, this film successfully brings back the spirt of the original show, taking random things like a sci-fi adventure, buddy comedy and more to go through this in a comedic tone and makes it very enjoyable to watch, along with a handle message of "team work" and great humor. Score: 8/10
- The Animation: The work of animation is fantastic. Even if the 2-D animation is made more for TV, it's does have the quality to be in the film (since this is a film based on the cartoon). This film will also include other media, like Stop-Motion on one character, and the computer animation with the effect and when the characters come to the surface. (But it may tick the advertising since they only go in the 3rd act.) Score: 9/10
- The Characters: The story did not just bring the original spirt, it also reintroduce the characters,(Which it's great for a new audience) Showing that SpongeBob and the Gang are exactly like they are in the show with a new character development. The only thing is off is the villain Burger Beard, with his humor and Antonio Banderas performance could have been handled better. Score: 9/10
Recommendation: Unless if your someone who hate SpongeBob, this film is a must-watch for everyone, old or new SpongeBob fans will get an enjoyment out of this and even Non fans as well. (further explanation on the bottom)
Transcript[]
I Remember back when I was a kid, I was a HUGE SpongeBob Fan! Always watching it whenever it airs on T.V, buy the DVDs, often watching the original 2004 film, and even got an opportunity to see voice actors Live, reading an episode.
It was up, until around the 4th or 5th season, I suddenly lost interest. Because the show kinda lost it's touch, due to it's creator: Stephen Hillenburg, quitting the show after the first movie.
But I still hold fun memories to those good old episodes to this day. Heck, I even made this painting of SpongeBob's neighborhood in college.
But now that SpongeBob and the gang are back on the big screen, will the movie make me feel right back at home in Bikini Bottom, or is the franchise all dried up at this point? Let's find out.
The Story[]
You will be surprised, over the amount of things happening in this 90 minute film (Trust me, the trailer doesn't even show a Fraction, of what the story is about).
This movie will go All Over the Place! Taking elements from a heist, sci-fi, post-apocalypse, a buddy-comedy, time travel, entering a new world, action, super heroes... It tries to put in so many elements, But somehow it manage to put it off well.
With all these things, the movie tells it more "absurd" and "Off the Wall" comedic-tone, and that's whats works in the Story. It keeps the spirit of the original show, and it helps that is self-aware that everything going on is just pure crazy.
So the Humor is definitely one of the strong points here. That, and it does offer a nicely handled message of "Team Work," So it does have a good heart like SpongeBob himself. But I will say that it could be possible, that some people would feel put-off by it's humor, over how completely random these scenarios are.
Technically, not really a flaw, but just a little warning, that some of the nautical nonsense has been put in the max here.
Everything is normal, before Squidward asked
Then everything in the background changed after Squidward asked
Squidward: "Seriously aren't you over reacting a bit?"
Then everything burst into flames and every one became the apocalypses.
Mr. Krabs: "Welcome to the apocalypses Mr. Squidward. I hope you like leather!"
However... If there is one problem to know, regarding the story's itself, it's that everything happening here, has already been done in earlier SpongeBob moments.
If your a big SpongeBob fan (like me), you may notice which plot elements that's already been made in a certain SpongeBob episode.
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Like the villain, stealing the Krabby Patty formula, and leaving bikini bottoms in ruins was already done in the first SpongeBob movie.
SpongeBob forming a friendship with Plankton and singing a song about It, was already done in F.U.N.
The main characters going to the live action surface was done in Pressure
And the whole gang turning to Avengers-Style super heroes was done in Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy V
I'm Not saying that it makes it imminently predictable... It just feel like "Unoriginal" writing. But even with that, it doesn't stop the fact that the story is still "engaging and funny" none the less.
The Animation[]
It's funny how after all these years, the animation still looks the same as last time I saw SpongeBob. It still holds on to the same style, that it has on the show.
So the biggest downside here, is that the quality is sub-part compare to the other animated features release now in days. On the other hand though, I bet they'll be a lot of people who will feel happy to see 2-D Animation back in theaters.
But as a film based directly from a T.V show, It really does deliver something that feels like you can't get anywhere else. Considering that all the different elements here I mention before, It manages to delivered them in a way that is "fast-paste, colorful, and always interesting to watch."
So a part of what makes the film engaging, does comes from the Animation. Not only that, but it also incorporates other animation mediums, and it makes them feel like they would fit in a movie like this, like many of the computer special effects, or even one character that is all stop-motion.
But I'm sure the one thing that you all want to know about, is regarding the "computer animation" when the characters come to the surface. Well surprisingly enough, there really isn't a lot as much the movie advertised.
SpongeBob and the gang wouldn't come out to the surface until the the "3rd" Act! In reality, there're lot more animation then live action, then your regular hybrid movies like Alvin and the Chipmunks.
But anyways, when the characters become computer animated, they actually look fantastic! It keeps the same look in animation in their 2-D forms, but also gives them a lot of details, to make them bend in beautifully with the real world.
Squidward: Look at me! I'm ah God!
Then the villain threw a plastic can rings, on to Squidward's Nose.
Squidward continued: What is this, diabolical thing! (Grunts)
And this is not to mention that the action scenes (when they are super heroes) are both intense and a lot of fun. It may have some "T.V quality", but the animation is still very strong thanks to its creativity.
The Characters []
For any SpongeBob fan, what is the most important factors, is to see how these characters will return to the big screen, and it's really is nice to know that they haven't even changed a bit.
You got: SpongeBob himself who is a good hearted and lovable goofball, who wants to set things right, Patrick as his dumb best friend, Squidward is his pretentious neighbor, Sandy as his smarter friend, Mr. Krabs as his money loving boss, and Plankton as Krab's arch-enemy who always plots to steal the Krabby patty secret formula.
What's even better, is that some of them will even go thought an interesting character development.
We can see how SpongeBob can have his limitation, Plankton learns more about team work, as the movie would progress, and it's really funny to see how the other characters become Crazy Savages! Desperate for Krabby patties, when Bikini Bottom become a post-apocalyptic world
But what I applaud this movie for, is that it actually reintroduces SpongeBob, and the town of Bikini Bottom in a way that's pretty clever! It feels much more welcome to new audiences, and this something that a lot of movies based directly on T.V shows, tend to forget to add on.
And then there's the villain of the film: Burger-Beard, who in concept, sounds interesting, and would actually pass as an antagonist in SpongeBob. But in execution, he just feels a little too goofy and doesn't seem to pass as a threat as much as Plankton in the first movie.
This is a bit due to both the writing and Antonio Banderas performance, so his only issue, is that he'd could have been handled better.
Mr. Krabs: What are you doing with me "formuler?" (formula in pirate talk)
Burger-Beard (Antonio Banderas): You mean...
Then suddenly his pirate ship suddenly became a restaurant
Burger-Beard (Antonio Banderas) continued: Me formula!!
and a bunch of cannons popped out of the front of his ship
Then a Splat from Squidward: It happen's when I'm nervous;
As for the rest, there's really isn't much to say about them. Any other character here, serves little purpose to the plot, or they're just background characters. Sure there're will be a few cameos, but don't expect too much
There has never been a better feeling, then to see some old friends like these characters once again...
Final Thoughts[]
Scene from Pickles: H-H-Hey SpongeBob's back.
That could probably be the best way to say it. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water may not be perfect with some recycled plot elements, random scenarios, and some T.V quality 2-D animation, But it's truly is an enjoyable movie, with an engaging story, highly creative animation, and great humor with the characters we all know and love.
If you even been a SpongeBob Fan either in the past or present, then This is definitely a Must Watch! I even recommended this for those who don't watch the show, since it also works as a stand alone movie.
The only people who should't go watch this, are those that HATE SpongeBob, because... well at the end of the day, this is still SpongeBob
This movie brings Spongebob back to it's original
Story: 7/10
Animation: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Overall: 8/10