The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

Reviewed by:
David Peisner

We need SpongeBob SquarePants. His self-effacing, Everyman goofiness feels particularly welcome alongside the other titans of children’s entertainment: the irritatingly needy Barney, the creepy Elmo, and the Teletubbies, who wander their dystopia like drug casualties. It’s not surprising then that SpongeBob’s first movie coaxes inspired performances from an impressive cast of contributors. Avril Lavigne takes a short break from proving how adult she is to bring an exuberant Josie & the Pussycats–style energy to “The SpongeBob SquarePants Theme.” Wilco sound similarly refreshing on the lighthearted “Just a Kid.” The Flaming Lips don’t really need to alter their loopy approach one bit for the psychedelic pop delight “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy.” Ditto for the Shins’ warm “They’ll Soon Discover.” SpongeBob himself turns in some appropriately cartoonish pop, but with wildly eclectic offerings from artists like Prince Paul, Ween, and Motorhead, this soundtrack isn’t just for kids; it’s for the preadolescent hipster in all of us.

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