The Spongebob Squarepants Movie

After spending five years as Nickelodeon's most popular program, SpongeBob Squarepants finally got his shot and broke through with his successful big screen debut. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is a film that appeals to kids with its light-hearted themes, immature comedy and ridiculous originality. The great thing about this character though is he also crosses over into the adult realm of entertainment, supplying jokes fit for an older (but fun-loving) crowd that aren't too potty-mouthed for youngsters. The film centres on SpongeBob and Patrick Star's journey to find King Neptune's crown in order to save SpongeBob's boss, Mr. Krabs, after the evil Plankton steals and hocks it to help him with his plan to take over the undersea city of Bikini Bottom. Sound barmy? Well, it is, but that's the beauty of this absorbing creature: he and his exploits are wildly unpredictable and full of absurd comedy. The appeal for parents is the valuable message to kids about believing in yourself and finding confidence, but it's nothing too deep that SpongeBob can't make light of with his infantile clowning. The DVD extras are very rewarding for both long-time fans and newcomers. Creator Hillenburg details the concept of the film, delving deeper into his character and explaining his origin, as well as all of the characters, both recurring and new. Along the way, the featurette also includes interviews with the impressive cast members, including Jeffrey Tambor, Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin and the one and only David Hasselhoff — the human hovercraft (of whom they created a yak hair coiffed 700-pound replica for his illustrious scene). Most impressive is the pop-up dictionary featured every time a big word like "curmudgeon" or "avaricious" is used. Another featurette takes the viewer undersea for an educational trip to discover the real creatures they caricature in the film, like the sea star (Patrick), which can poke its stomach through its mouth and digest food outside of its body. Plus: "Saving the Surf" and "Animatics" featurettes, trailer. (Nickelodeon/Paramount)