"What's remarkable about The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie is how much care Hillenburg and his crew of writers, animators and actors have taken to make it undeniably movielike." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM "The writing is sharp and the characters cool, while at the film’s heart lies an innocence that resonates with us all." Urban Cinefile Critics URBAN CINEFILE "'...More then enough laughs to keep everyone, big and small, entertained.'" Michael A Smith NOLAN'S POP CULTURE REVIEW "An animated adventure that's funnier than Shark Tale and more charming than The Polar Express." Michael Rechtshaffen HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "The experience is such a breath of playful good humor that it's difficult not to be happy it's here." Kenneth Turan LOS ANGELES TIMES

"A fun, adventure-filled story rife with unexplored lands and clever, cute sea creatures." Jeff Otto IGN FILMFORCE "Sublimely ridiculous – and absolutely hilarious." Mike McGranaghan AISLE SEAT "SpongeBob and Patrick make perfect heroes for a children's adventure story. And, wonder of wonders, without apparent strain, just as on TV, they'll please the grown-ups as well." Shawn Levy OREGONIAN "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is full of action and silliness that will delight rug rats, but it's still hip and absurd enough to entertain grown-ups, too." Lou Lumenick NEW YORK POST "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is an inventive-enough trifle that will make both parents and kids laugh. And that's all it wants to be." Tom Long DETROIT NEWS

The Inside Story

"All of this happens in jolly animation with bright colors and is ever so much more entertaining than you are probably imagining." Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

One thing SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg didn't think would happen was that a kid, shaped like a sponge, with square pants and a bright yellow complexion would gain such universal appeal. But SpongeBob SquarePants did, and that has made a lot of kids, and their parents truly happy. "You don’t make something that you think will make your friends laugh and expect it to go crazy like this," says Hillenburg with a laugh. "It’s totally unimaginable." But there is more to the little yellow fellow than just cearting laughter, surely. "The reason people love SpongeBob is because he is a character who is blissfully unaware of the world around him," says producer Julia Pistorand senior vice president of Nickelodeon Movies. "Kids and adults alike really gravitate toward him. I think it’s because the world has become a complicated and scary place, so much so that sometimes we’d all love to be blissfully unaware." Joyce Millman of The New York Times once declared: "It’s the most charming toon on television, and one of the weirdest. And it’s also good, clean fun, which makes sense because it is, after all, about a sponge." So what can viewers expect from SpongeBob's first big movie adventure? "The main theme of the film is about integrity and about believing in who you are so you can accomplish anything you set your sights on. “Ultimately the movie is about how SpongeBob embraces his kid-ness," Hillenburg explains. "In fact, in spite of how much SpongeBob wants to be a ‘man,’ in the end, it’s his kid-like mentality that saves the day." And it's got that Buddy theme throughout with a real bond between SpongeBob and Patrick the Starfish, hasn't it? "It’s definitely a buddy movie, delving deeply into the friendship of these two goofy characters, into the purity of their souls, and into how much they are truly there for each other," says Julia Pistor. "I mean, there’s a scene at the end that I’ve seen a million times and I cry every time. So we deliver absurdity and laughter, but also, like the show, a tremendous amount of heart." And the movie pretty well keeps pace with the hit television show too? "The movie confirms the same principle of the series, which is that innocence is something to be celebrated," Hillenburg says. "On top of that, it’s really very funny." And while some readers may think the thought of a kid, shaped like a sponge and wearing squarepants is ridiculous, forget it. It's lunacy. That's right! But loveable, sweet lunacy. The best kind. As for silliness spare a thought for actress Scarlett Johansson who reveals what it was like going from a serious actor to taking on a character in the movie. "The voice director kept asking me to get sillier, louder, faster and goofier, until at one point I had to tell him that this is absolutely the opposite of what I normally do," she said. So did she get into the real spirit of 'SpongeBob' eventually. "But working with all the veteran voice talent, who just have such a great time, I loosened up, got silly, and had a great time, too!" Former "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff makes a very funny guest appearance in the film. He says he didn't care what the role was, as long as he was in! "When Steve Hillenburg asked me to be in this film I told him that I didn’t care what the part is, I’m in because when I mentioned the word ‘SpongeBob’ around my house, all my kids go crazy," he said. "I’ve seen the TV show myself and I love it. I think it’s a really positive thing for kids, and so I was really honored to get to be involved with the film." The final word on "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" goes to the man who is the voice of SpongeBob both in the film and since his creation in 1999. "This movie really speaks to the kid in all of us, and that’s why I think it will stand the test of time," says Kenny. "Like a lot of kids trying something beyond their usual realm, SpongeBob and Patrick are going on the quest of their lives and they’re afraid that they might not be ready for it. They go back and forth between that fear and being full of bravado, which is sort of how kids experience things." So if you haven't seen 'SpongeBob" take my and every other kids advice and go see "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie". It's colorful, creative, comforting and down right silly at times. But boy is it great entertainment. And funny? Very funny. Crew Bytes "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" was .......
directed by Princess Grace Foundation’s Statue Award & THREE time EMMY Award winner Stephen Hillenburg ["The Green Beret" and "Wormholes"]; screenplay by Derek Drymon ["Hey Arnold", "Rocko’s Modern Life" and "CatDog"], Tim Hill ["Rocko’s Modern Life", "Exit 57", "Muppets From Space" and "Max Keeble’s Big Move"], Kent Osborne ["School Ties", "Dropping Out", "I Am Stamos" and "Open House"], Aaron Springer ["The Goddamn George Liquor Show"] and Paul Tibbitt ["Super Santa in South Pole Joe"]; original story by Stephen Hillenburg ["The Green Beret" and "Wormholes"]; production design by Nick Jennings ["Rock’s Modern Life", "Hey Arnold!", "Angry Beavers" and "CatDog"]; edited by Lynn Hobbs ["Spawn", "Eraser", "Batman and Robin" and "Duck Dodgers"]; director of photograhpy Jerzy Zielinski A.S.C ["The Lizzie McGuire Movie", "The Secret Garden", "Who is Cletis Tout?" and "Dodgeball"]; original music by Gregor Narholz ["Welcome To The Dollhouse", "Nixon", "The Cable Guy" and "Kaante"] produced by Julia Pistor ["Clockstoppers", "Rugrats Go Wild", "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" and "Lemony Snicketts: A Series of Unfortunate Events"]. Casting About "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" stars the VOICES of .......
Tom Kenny ["Dilbert", "Futurama", "Top Cat" and "Cow and Chicken"]; Bill Fagerbakke ["The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Lloyd in Space", "Dumb and Dumber" and "Funny Farm"]; Clancy Brown ["Bad Boys", "The Shawshank Redemption", "Flubber" and "Highlander"]; Rodger Bumpass ["Cousin Eddie’s Christmas Vacation", "Just Desserts", "A Boyfriend for Christmas" and "The Good Friday Murders"]; Doug Lawrence ["Rocko’s Modern Life"]; Alec Baldwin ["Cat in the Hat", "Pearl Harbor", "State and Main" and "The Cooler"]; Scarlett Johansson ["The Horse Whisperer", "Ghost World", "Girl With a Pearl Earring" and "Lost in Translation"]; 2004 Golden Satellite Award Winner Jeffrey Tambor ["And Justice For All", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Hellboy"] and David Hasselhoff ["A Dirty Shame" and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story"] as David Hasselhoff. The Story

"It's not The Incredibles, or one of those animated features that spent zillions on character design, pedigree and verisimilitude. But SpongeBob is a sweet, silly thing with a child-friendly esthetic all its own." Jami Bernard NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

It's SpongeBob SquarePants big day. He's filled with joyous excitement. Why? Because Mr Krabs is having a grand opening for his new burger store and will be announcing who the new manager will be. SpongeBob has won every employee award and he is sure that Mr Krabs will announce him as the winner. But in a real shock decision, SpongeBob is overlooked because he is, well, just a kid. With his world crashing down around him SpongeBob seeks consulation by drowning his sorrows at the local Goofy Goober. But it seems not everyone is happy with Mr Krabs opening a second restaurant. The evil Plankton has a plan, Plan X, and he is about to take over from Mr Krabs. He sneaks into King Neptunes castle and steals his Royal Crown. All clues lead to Mr Krabs. But with the help of the Kings daughter, SpongeBob convinces King Neptune that he and his very best friend Patrick the Starfish will go to Shell City and return the crown. Now it's up to SpongeBob to save the day. Can the kid do it? The Verdict "It's colorful, cheery, at times outrageously funny and on many occasions outright lunacy, but who cares. It's fun!! Another fun-filled, animated kaleidoscope of magical images all married into a grand adventure sure to have the little ones squealing with delight while the parents enjoy a real good chuckle. "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" makes for good family fare." The Voice Cast

Tom Kenny Clancy Brown Rodger Bumpass Bill Fagerbakke Carolyn Lawrence Mr Lawrence Mary Jo Catlett Jill Talley Alec Baldwin Scarlett Johansson Jeffrey Tambor Dee Bradley Baker Sirena Irwin Lori Alan Thomas Wilson Carlos Alazraqui Joshua Seth Tim Blaney Derek Drymon Aaron Springer Aaron Hendry Neil Ross Stephen Hillenburg Michael Patrick Bell Cole McKay Dylan Haggerty Bart McCarthy David Hasselhoff

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SpongeBob SquarePants/Narrator/Gary/Clay Mr Eugene H Krabs Squidward Tentacles/Fish #4 Patrick Star/Fish #2/Chum Customer/Local Fish Sandy Cheeks Sheldon J Plankton/Larry the Lobster/Fish #7 Mrs Puff Karen the Computer/Old Lady Dennis Mindy King Neptune Cop/Phil/Perch Perkins/Waiter/Attendant/Thug/Twin Reporter/Driver/Ice Cream Lady Pearl Fish #3/Victor - Tough Fish #1 Squire/Goofy Goober Announcer/Thief Prisoner Singing Goofy Goober The Screamer/Fisherman Laughing Bubble Cyclops Driver Cyclops Parrot Fisherman Scruffy the Pirate Stitches the Pirate Captain Bart the Pirate Himself

The Crew Directed by Stephen Hillenburg From the television series SpongeBob SquarePants by Stephen Hillenburg Story by Stephen Hillenburg Director of Photography Jerzy Zielinski A.S.C Produced by Stephen Hillenburg & Julia Pistor Executive Produced by Albie Hecht, Gina Shay and Derek Drymon Original Music by Gregor Narholz Film Editing by Lynn Hobson Casting by Judith Bouley Costume Design by Terri Valazza Run Time 87 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - Paramount Pictures and Viacom International Inc - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved