If your childhood was anything like mine, then the only thing meaningful in life was running home after school to catch the hour of SpongeBob on Nickelodeon. It was a simpler time with simpler pleasures.
Throughout the years, SpongeBob Squarepants has become a household name and an international phenomenon, being translated into over 10 languages and shown in over 20 countries. Turning 16 this year, the show has seen two different incarnations. The first, and the better of the two, premiered in 1999 and went until 2005, which was the year the first movie came out. The second incarnation, which is the horrible, horrible carcass of an amazing franchise, was expectantly picked up after the first movie and has continued until this date. With the second movie, SpongeBob Squarepants: Out of Water, we might see the birth of a new generation of the series or the death of it completely.
In 1998, Stephen Hillenburg pitched a series of a city of underwater denizens who interact with one yellow sponge who lived in a pineapple. This idea would soon become SpongeBob Squarepants. After five years, four great seasons, and one movie, Hillenburg would step down from the show. And after five lackluster seasons, Hillenburg returned to work on the second movie.
After watching the two trailers available, I can say that I am reluctantly optimistic about the movie. The trailers themselves are funny, animated beautifully and make the movie look great. But, since the show has lost some sparkle from the past few years, I’m not entirely sure that this movie will be as magical as the first few seasons and movie were. My only complaint about the movie so far is the apparent lack of ideas the movie has. The trailers depict SpongeBob and friends escaping the sea after some sort of deep water Armageddon and coming to land to become superheroes. This makes no sense, but the show does tend to throw continuity and relativity out the window on many occasions. The movie sounds good enough, but it’s definitely something SpongeBob fans haven’t seen before in other episodes.
There’s no telling what will happen to the sponge after the movie since some sources point towards the cancellation of the long-running program while some point to another season. If they do have another season with Hillenburg on board, the show might be able to bring back the great feel and unconventional charm the show once had.
The movie comes out on February 8. So far, the movie has been getting decent reviews from IMDb, but like all upcoming movies, this is sure to change. This movie will definitely bring out the nostalgic side in me and anyone who grew up on SpongeBob. Whether or not it’s as good as the first movie and early seasons is another matter.