The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), PG, ★★★

Spongebob and the gang are back.

Even though kids are delighted to hear and see on the ads and tv spots that Spongebob Squarepants are on the big screen, older people such as myself could either care less about what they are up to or we could relive our childhood memories and see what they are up to. I have read comments recently regarding the new Spongebob episodes and interest has been steadily declining and the creators are running out of fresh ideas. It may look like that the show has been derailing a bit, but because of this sequel, this movie may generate the show's momentum and, yes, this is a better movie than I thought it would be.

Spongebob Squarepants (voiced by Tom Kenny) is doing his normal routine, liking everybody and everything he does and going to work at The Krusty Krab. Mr Krabs' nemesis, Plankton (Mr. Lawrence), tries to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. But, once again, Spongebob, Patrick and Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) defeat him as his robot runs out of gas as he emerges and admits defeat.

But, somehow, Plankton gets after the secret formula since the robot was a decoy and he notices it resting on the pressure plate. He finds a ship in the bottle and removes it and leaves a piece of paper to make the switch. But, Spongebob walks in and fights with Plankton and during the struggle, the formula vanishes. Mr. Krabs goes into the office and see that the formula is gone and jumps to conclusions and say the Plankton was the one behind it but Spongebob defends him saying that it just disappeared. However, the supply of Krabby patties are gone and Plankton and Spongebob which gets Mr. Krabs thinking that he helped Plankton conspire against them.

Antonio Banderas as the Burger Beard.

I did not like the first movie as it did not deliver on laughs, jokes or the story itself. It was too desperate. The sequel, however, is better than the first Spongebob Squarepants movie because it delivers the laughs and a good storyline regarding the one thing that everybody in Bikini Bottom loves: Krabby Patties. I think that the story is more simpler than bargained for and it is fine as it just zips by real quick with Plankton and Spongebob having fun with the time-jump. However, based on the ads, it seems that it looks like a horrible movie with them being on land. It happens during the third act where it does suffer in comparison to the first two acts.

This is a very strange year where so far the movies that I have been looking forward to were really bad so far and the other ones are surprises. This movie made me laugh and smile as it sort brings back childhood memories of the characters. You follow him everywhere and sometimes cry with him or just plain laugh-out-loud. This movie is a harmless and innocent entertainment that says that there is enough air in the tank for the nonstop gags and good pacing to create another hour-and-a-half long episode of Spongebob. It is a good time for everyone to go see this one at the movies.

***