If you don't already know who lives in a pineapple under the sea, chances are that you do not fit into any of the occasionally overlapping sociological groups: Children, parents, grandparents, college students, unemployed twentysomethings, stoners, television critics or children-at-heart. I'm sure there are several other groups that have embraced the simple joys of "SpongeBob SquarePants", but if you're not already in one of them, "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" probably isn't an ideal introduction. At a robust 90 minutes, it's perhaps more "SpongeBob" than any neophyte needs in one sitting. However, for those who are true believers, the first cinematic venture to feature the happy-go-lucky sponge and his assortment of buddies delivers exactly what it promises. It's like a long episode of the Nickelodeon series, complete with the colorful animation, endearing characters, catchy songs and occasional moments of intelligent wit that fans adore. Far from a great movie (and probably short of even being a very good movie), "SpongeBob SquarePants" is more than an hour of relentlessly cute and frequently funny simple pleasures.

"The SpongeBob SquarePants" movie features only the barest of premises. SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) is excited that the opening of the new Krusty Krab 2 in Bikini Bottom will mean that he can finally move up from fry cook to fast food manager. At the grand unveiling, though, Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) reveals that SpongeBob's neighbor Squidward (Rodger Bumpass) will be the new manager, because he thinks SpongeBob is just too much of a kid. Just as our hero is crushed in sadness and goes on an ice cream bender, Plankton (Doug Lawrence) hatches his latest evil plan to bring customers to the Chum Bucket. It involves stealing King Neptune's (Jeffrey Tambor) crown and blaming Mr. Krabs, though it gets much more complicated (because otherwise, how could the plot extend to feature length). It's up to SpongeBob and not-so-bright starfish pal Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to go off to Shell City to recover the crown. They're aided by King Neptune's independent daughter Mindy (Scarlett Johansson), but the evil Dennis (Alec Baldwin) is hot on their heels.

Although older fans often try to compare "SpongeBob" to the classic "Ren and Simpy", the newer series is generally less subversive, less satirically sharp and, appropriately, more kid-centric. While "Ren and Stimpy" felt like animation for teens that accidentally appealed to children, "SpongeBob" is the reverse. It's a tribute to creator Stephen Hillenburg's comic sensibility that a crossover exists to an older audience well connected to that inner child. However, "SpongeBob" isn't sophisticated entertainment and older viewers suggesting that the cartoon has many deep layers of meaning are probably fooling themselves. It's the universality of the humor and the themes that crosses boundaries.

In the real world, SpongeBob would probably be diagnosed with ADD, and one of the great pleasures of the show is a breakneck pace. Between silly puns, constant sight gags and all varieties of hijinx, your typical episode is done almost before you realize what the plot was, which is for the best. The major problem with the film is that it requires a structure. As written by Hillenburg, Derek Drymon, Tim Hill, Kent Osborne, Aaron Springer and Paul Tibbett there has to actually be a set-up, a serious of events, and a resolution. The result is a film that has unexpected lags. The kids at my screening loved the movie, but walking out I heard one girl, probably no older than 10, say to her friend, "It started out boring, but it was great." If even the target audience has issues with how long it took for SpongeBob and Patrick to begin their quest for the crown, older viewers may find the trials and tribulations on the road to Shell City redundant and occasionally dull. The film arrives at one climax that feels straight out of "Finding Nemo" and then has to rely on cinema's first ever deux ex Hasselhoff to solve one major story problem. The resolution, a tribute to the triumphant power of rock-n-roll couldn't have less to do with the story or come from further out in left field. However, it's those moments of absurdity that are the most pleasant in the entire film. The decision to extend the "SpongeBob" universe into the real world provides moments of levity, as does a framing device featuring a crew of live action pirates who also happen to be "SpongeBob" fans. The pirates are used to deflect at least one moment in which the main characters appear to be in serious jeopardy, reminding children both that it's OK to be worried, but that it's all still just a movie. I love the idea that this is a franchise that is teaching young children to embrace post-modernism and metatexuality.

Watching the trailers before the film, I was struck by how retro and primitive the upcoming Disney "Winnie the Pooh" release appears to be in its animated stylings. I had a similar feeling watching "SpongeBob". There's a simplicity in this kind of 2-D animation that almost feels like a relief. Part of the pleasure of "The Incredibles" was that the 3-D Pixar palate requires constant attention to take in all of the lovingly rendered character details as well as the plethora of inside jokes in the background of every frame. The Pixar films are made to push the boundaries of animation and to draw attention to just how groundbreaking they are. Part of the pleasure of watching "SpongeBob" is exactly the opposite. The colors are bold, but basic. The backgrounds are vivid and fully of silly characters, but you never have to stop and marvel at the mechanics. "Spongebob" doesn't require much of its viewers intellectually and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The two biggest laughs in the movie come from a sponge's buttocks and a starfish in fishnets, for heaven's sake!

Although the character animation is simple, broad strokes aiming mostly for "cute" over "realistic" or "complicated," "SpongeBob", like "Ren and Stimpy", occasionally uses extreme close-ups for moments that are both grotesque and hilarious. In his casual state, SpongeBob is already funny, but he's even funnier when he's hungover or nearly dried out and if the image of excited super-happy SpongeBob can't bring a smile to your face, you have a hard heart indeed. All that being said, transferring "SpongeBob" to the big screen has done absolutely nothing to elevate the animation beyond providing full immersion. Waiting for the video or DVD, which will doubtlessly provide countless babysitting hours for countless parents, won't cost the movie anything in quality.

Thematically, the film delves into SpongeBob and Patrick's insecurities over being too young to be heroes and ultimately comes to the conclusion that boys can be heroic and brave just as easily as men. What about girls? Dunno. Not an issue. All that matters is that being young enough to love Goofy Goober's ice cream parlor doesn't mean you can't save the day. But beyond celebrating creativity, the power of the imagination and believing in yourself, "SpongeBob" has never been about imparting moral lessons. In fact, the lead character can occasionally be ultra-annoying, but SpongeBob is, at his core, just a small child and kids can relate to his bratty tendencies and his periodic mood swings. They see themselves as they are in the Sponge, rather than seeing a heavy-handed message about the way they should be. For adults, I guess, Spongebob represents a certain kind of embodiment of the id. He does what he wants and wears his emotions on his sleeve, or at least he would, if he wore anything more than cardboard pants-suit.

Is there a deeper textual level on which mature adults can read their own message? I guess so. Somewhere there's a critique of the fast food industry and how it enslaves both young minimum wage workers and the consumers who flock to them. Ultimately, though, there's no criticism of that kind of mindless devotion. SpongeBob will continue to work at the Krusty Krab and the denizens of Bikini Bottom will continue to eat there with some regularity. This isn't "Supersize This" or anything. The status quo is reaffirmed in the end, as if "Supersize This" had tried to argue that eating McDonalds every day was horrible and evil, but eating Burger King every day was totally OK. The film also encourages children that it's OK to be slaves to consumer entertainment. Spongebob makes fun of Patrick for his devotion to Goofy Goobers (he even wears Goofy Goober underwear), but in the end the duo agrees that there's nothing wrong with embracing that kind of kiddie commercialism.

What on earth am I talking about?!?!? "SpongeBob SquarePants" is absurdist humor and isn't meant to be read literally. So never mind all that stuff.

Vocal performances are essential to a franchise like this and all the regular cast members (Kenny, Bumpass, Lawrence, Fagerbakke and Clancy) are reliable and perfect. Baldwin adds necessary evil bluster as the incredibly dangerous Dennis and Tambor imparts both power and insecurity as the balding undersea ruler. I got a kick out of the fact that Johansson's Mindy seems visually modeled after the original drawings of Enid, Thora Birch's character in "Ghost World", rather than Johansson's Rebecca. The young actress' voice is appropriately wise and girlish, though a conversation where she promises to make men out of SpongeBob and Patrick couldn't help but make me giggle in malicious ways.

In a turn that's both self-mocking and somewhat ego-maniacal, Hasselhoff is hilarious as, well, Hasselhoff. The dude's also in great shape.

For kids and indie hipsters alike, the soundtrack will be a major draw. In my crowd, the kids sang along with the opening theme, which is performed here by the aforementioned pirates. The younger set will also embrace tunes like the incredibly catchy "Now that We're Men" and "The Best Day Ever." Stick around for the credits, though, and you'll hear new songs by Wilco and Flaming Lips which are, remarkably, both organic to the film and completely recognizable to the bands in question.

The thing about movies like this is that recommendations are pretty much futile. I doubt that many passionate fans of "SpongeBob" (young or old) will be disappointed by the movie. I similarly doubt that anybody who dislikes "SpongeBob" or has apathy toward the series will be swayed by the movie. Parents accompanying children will find just enough amusement to avoid being bored or annoyed, unless they find that the television show already bores or annoys them. As somebody with a genial appreciation for the show, I had a genial appreciation of the movie. This 3-star effort was 90 minutes of light entertainment and I need never think of it again.

Recommended: Yes