Michael' Movie Grade: B
A really fun SpongeBob adventure.
This movie is in many ways an extended episode of SpongeBob. That is not to say that the film feels overlong (the hour and a half runtime goes by very quickly) but rather that there is nothing bigger or more cinematic here than in a typical TV episode. Sure, we may be dealing with ghost pirates and spooky danger, but The Flying Dutchman has been one of the series' characters from very early on. While as essentially a feature-length episode it does not reach the heights of the show's early season (which are still hilarious), it is still quite entertaining.
The storyline moves at a quick pace, and its comedic momentum keeps it consistently fun, even when some of the jokes fall flat. SpongeBob's desire to prove himself to be a "Big Guy" is instantly relatable to anyone that has ever been a kid. Meanwhile as silly as SpongeBob and Patrick's antics are, there is a real warmth to their friendship here that gives the film quite a bit of heart. We even get to see a warmer side of Mr. Krabs, which works quite well. The Flying Dutchman works perfectly as a villain here. His over-the-top evilness and how much the character enjoys himself is a pure delight to watch. The Underworld is also a great environment for this film. It is quite atmospheric, and the designs of the various creatures are really creative.
For such a silly comedy, the humor can be a bit hit and miss at times. There are times when the filmmakers seem to be trying too hard to be funny and it doesn't come off. However, there are also moments that truly made me laugh out loud (the 30 minutes later joke is hilarious).
As great as SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs and The Flying Dutchman are here, the supporting cast is not as strong. Many of the other SpongeBob characters are too sidelined and don't really get to do much. Meanwhile, the new characters simply aren't all that memorable.
This may not be the best SpongeBob adventure, but it is still a really fun movie.
By the way this movie is accompanied by a short Christmas-themed film with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This short is quite smart, funny and just as entertaining as the feature.
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