Five years ago Stephen Hillenberg created a world we now know as Bikini Bottom, an aquatic version of everything we find in our own society. In true comic fashion, every persona is exaggerated to near stupidity. But there is an innocence lost in today’s society. Hillenberg illustrates this naiveté captured in the body of a yellow dish sponge named Spongebob Squarepants. Since the show started, audiences have soaked their cheeks (and sometimes pants), laughing at his attempts to rid the world of humbugs and injustices. But does anyone watch “Spongebob Squarepants” for the symbolic innocence that our world so often seems devoid of?

There was a lot of pessimism over the release of this Nickelodeon film. Unlike, “Rugrats” and “The Wild Thornberries’,” critics believed a 90-minute film would deteriorate the public’s view of Spongebob. But really, who cares what the critics say?

In this sea tale, King Neptune’s crown is stolen as part of the evil Plankton’s “Plan Z” to capture the Krabby Patty formula and “RULE THE WORLD.” After falling into depression from losing a promotion opportunity to Squidward, Spongebob finds that his boss (Mr. Krabs) has been framed as the crown thief. With Patrick at his side, Spongebob makes his way to the dreaded Shell City and the above-sea world. With a cameo from the “Great Hasselhoff,” Spongebob just might make it back in time to save Mr. Krabs, King Neptune and Bikini Bottom.

Along his way, Spongebob is taunted as an irresponsible and immature “kid.” His passion to prove them wrong, as well as his gullibility and ignorance, help him to defeat Dennis (an aquatic version of Mel Gibson’s Mad Max character) and all the unnamed horrors that lurk in black depths beyond the city limits. Spongebob and Patrick show that you don’t need muscle mass or even a brain to achieve, all you need is blind confidence and determination.

So does the elongated episode water down the movie’s power? Not so, in fact it seems to encapsulate 90 minutes of action and humor so cozily that you barely notice your bum falling asleep before it’s all said and done. With this tightly knit plot, the twists and turns don’t confuse the audience; they just keep them from getting bored. With better illustrations than the TV show, and no loss of power in the jump to feature length, it’s difficult not to give this movie some much-deserved praise.