Hey gang, Valkor here. Superheroes have all but taken over our lives - from books, to TV shows and even in the theaters, which holds especially true now that DC is back in it with their films… that we hope does well. But let’s place our focus on a lesser hero – the one we really don’t need, but we don’t mind having him around; a hero who resides in a pineapple under the sea by day and fights for justice and the good of all sea creatures at night. From the halls of Paramount Home and Nickelodeon comes the latest DVD set to hit the shelves, it's “The Adventures of SpongeBob Squarepants”.
The Adventures of SpongeBob Squarepants DVD features 9 superhero themed episodes pulled from the series 9 season run. Though most episodes showcase SpongeBob’s heroes “Mermaidman and Barnacleboy”, the Sponge still gets in on all the action and hijinx. You can also expect series regulars Patrick, Plankton, Mr. Krabs and Squidward among others to get in on all the fun. Highlights of this DVD set include:
Mermaidman vs. SpongeBob – Mermaidman and Barnacleboy are doing some advertisement work for Krabs, which doesn’t sit well with his competitor Plankton. So Plankton devises a plan that would control the minds of the superhero duo to bring down Krabs’ popularity. The only way SpongeBob can set things right is to subject the duo to the powers of the Krabby Patties.
Patrick-Man – Patrick is saddened and bored with his life. And after some “contemplation”, he decides he wants to become superhero “Patrick-Man: Defender of Bikini Bottom”. However he takes things just a bit too far causing more harm than good. But unwittingly, he stumbles across an evil mastermind hidden amongst the populace of Bikini Bottom.
Mermaidman and Barnacleboy II – SpongeBob wins the legendary “Conch Signal” that calls Mermaidman and Barnacleboy whenever there’s danger. However, SpongeBob uses it for the most inappropriate reasons, which doesn’t fly right with the superhero duo.
There’s no additional extras on the disc save for some trailers, which I always feel is a missed opportunity. I mean there’s always room for simple games or other activities right? Regardless, after sifting through this short set of… well shorts, it’s time to render my verdict in the TOV Breakdown!
The Good:
For as long as I’ve been reviewing SpongeBob DVDs, I’ve never run into a set I didn’t like – and “The Adventures of SpongeBob Squarepants” is no exception. It’s simple and yet highly entertaining, filled with memorable laughs pulled from the series, into a cozy little themed set; it’s filled with all the wacky and zany antics you would expect from a SpongeBob collection, which is to say it’s completely off the wall, but still so much fun. The set is perfect for anyone, of all ages, who is a fan, but you don’t want to sift through season after season of episodes or you’ve never seen an ep at all; instead you get a nice dose of animated goodness shot directly into your funny bone. I got a kick out of it and I think you guys will too.
The Bad:
Like I mentioned before the breakdown, companies like Paramount Home, should consider putting additional content on these sets to sort of expand beyond just watching the show. Maybe include some artwork, behind the scenes or some simple games rather than releasing a barebones set. That’s just my opinion.
The Ugly:
N/A
The Adventures of SpongeBob Squarepants gets a DVD release on September 22nd and if you’re looking for some simple, comedic superhero fun revolved around a cartoony sponge, then you’ll find just what you’re looking for with this set. And out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving “The Adventures of Spongebob Squarepants” a 3.5.
