The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
Director: Stephen Hillenburg
Year Released: 2004
Rating: 3.0
Whacked-out big screen version of the popular television show for children (and stoners) that has SpongeBob and starfish pal Patrick looking for the King's crown in Shell City/America (where sea creatures are turned into kitsch!). A lot of it is so inspired (the ice-cream parlor scene, the sheer presence of David Hasselhoff, Alec Baldwin as a biker/killer, "My pants are on fire! My underwear's on fire! I'm on fire!," did I mention David Hasselhoff?, and so on) that I spent part of my time in awe that something like this was actually financed. There are a lot of gross-out gags, dry humor and a few winks for the adults and you absolutely have to go in prepared to indulge in your inner 9-year-old - in other words, if you aren't willing to give in to the lunacy or aren't in on the 'joke,' this isn't for you. As for me, I'm writing this a day later and still feel a bit giddy....
