Guilty Pleasure – Spongebob Squarepants The Movie

“What’s this? A children’s film? That’s your guilty pleasure?!” Well yes, all thanks to one boring afternoon, where varsity ended early, and the buses were on strike, did I venture to go watch the yellow sponge and pink pal.

And it had to be one of the most trippiest, subtle bits of adult humour wrapped up in a sickeningly sweet kiddies cartoon that I have ever seen.

If you aren’t familiar with Spongebob Squarepants, he’s a talking sponge of a box-like shape that lives in a pineapple under the sea and I swear I’m not making this stuff up. Alongside a colourful cast of characters, that include a tight-fisted crab, a mentally-retarded starfish and a grumpy squid, Spongebob regularly engaged in wacky adventures that are most likely the sole reason why kids today are so damaged.

The show went downhill after a few years, but before it did, this gem of a film was released. With his dreams of being promoted crushed, his boss about to be shishkabobbed by a vengeful sea-king-deity something, and his deadliest and tiniest enemy preparing to enact a world domination scheme, it was up to Spongebob and his pal Patrick to save the day.

Cue some mad antics, an Alec Baldwin-voiced bounty hunter and David Hasslehoff and a story about growing up, and you had what would seem like your average family friendly entertainment.

Except that everything in between that was dripped in acid and cocaine.

Where do I even begin? The voice actors are all perfectly cast, but they’ve clearly been through the Michael Bay recruiting agency, as they were clearly on drugs as they read their lines. Why, Jeffrey Tambor had obviously relived memories from the Vietnam War, thanks to copious amounts of shrooms, that allowed him to scream so much.

And then you’ve got Spongebob and Patrick, getting catatonically wasted on Ice Cream, or the bubble party that is held in a hive of scum and villainy under the sea. Not too mention disturbing sea monsters, an homage to the Dawn of the Dead and David Hasslehoffs’ pectoral muscles.

It’s one of those films that will have adults giggling along, not at the childish jokes present, but at several bits of adult humour that toddlers won’t pick up on. And it never fails to get old. I watch this film regularly, and I’m amazed at the fact that I pick up on something new every time I do.

And it doesn’t look bad either. The animation is crisp and smooth, there are a few catchy musical numbers present, and the overall film still holds up quite well, long after the Spongebob craze died down.

Even if you hate hearing the screeching laugh of the box-shaped goodie two shoes, do yourself a favour and give this film a look. It’s guaranteed to make you chuckle at least once.

Last Updated: April 19, 2012