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James Paredes

Mrs. Storer

English 3H Block 5

24 January 2020

Undersea Super-heroes

Christopher Reeves once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to

persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” (Reeves). Everyone has the capability

to become a hero and all that is needed comes from within oneself. The 2004 film directed by

Stephen Hillenburg, which resulted from the critically acclaimed SpongeBob SquarePants

television series, follows the arduous adventure of SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star, a

yellow sea sponge and a pink star fish, as they traverse through many obstacles along their way

to save their home town from the nefarious and evil villain, Plankton. The SpongeBob

SquarePants Movie presents the archetypal journey in which SpongeBob with the help of Patrick

form an unusually distinct duo of friends that embark on an unconventional quest to save their

home by overcoming their weaknesses, ultimately revealing what it means to be a hero.

Throughout the film, SpongeBob and Patrick are exhibited to be untraditional and

different. At the start of their journey, SpongeBob and Patrick are forced to go into a violent bar

filled with criminals to get their car back but are forced to retreat to the bathroom to think of a

plan until they are distracted by the soap dispenser. When SpongeBob gets soap and bubbles

appear, SpongeBob and Patrick both exclaim, “Huh! Whoa! Hooray! Bubble party!”

(Hillenburg 00:34:54) As SpongeBob and Patrick go into the bathroom, they become distracted

by the soap dispenser creating many bubbles, causing them to instantly start having fun with the

bubbles by playing and dancing with them. Both SpongeBob and Patrick’s quick change of
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demeanor from serious to playful demonstrates their childlike nature and mindset. Their behavior

serves as a stark contrast to the common protagonists in other stories portrayed as being

physically strong and mentally smart. The animation of the scene displays the background as dull

and boring until it changes into a bright, exuberant scene with bright pink colors and bubbles

floating around, only reinforcing their minds to be curious and playful. Another characteristic of

their characters is displayed when SpongeBob and Patrick meet at the Goofy Goober Ice Cream

Parlor. After SpongeBob does not receive the managerial promotion at his job at

the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob heads off to Goofy Goober Ice Cream Parlor with Patrick.

SpongeBob belches, “Boy, Pat, that hit the spot. I'm feeling better already. Waiter let's get

another round over here. Oh, Mr. Waiter. Two more, please. Whoo!” (Hillenburg 00:18:18)

Eventually, the two faint and pass out waking up the next day dazed and irritable. Due to

SpongeBob’s immense disappointment in not being promoted to manager, he storms out angrily

to the local Goofy Goober Ice Cream Parlor to take his mind off things and vent out his

frustrations. Patrick encourages him to have an ice cream and then another and another until both

SpongeBob and Patrick overindulge themselves too much in desserts until they both faint.

SpongeBob uses ice cream to treat his stress and sadness in life just like how people treat food

and drinks like alcohol to escape, only to wake up the next morning in a daze. SpongeBob’s

inability to accept the fact that he did not receive the promotion because of his childlike qualities,

reveals his insecurity and imperfections that he struggles with along the movie. Despite

SpongeBob’s struggles, the pair venture on an extraordinary trek to save their hometown of

Bikini Bottom.

The duo venture on an unusual journey filled with bizarre occurrences. When

SpongeBob and Patrick go through the eerie and deep trench filled with sea monsters,
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SpongeBob together with Patrick both sing and tap dance to a full song and, ultimately, befriend

the monsters. They both exclaim, “Now that we’re men, they have become our friends. Now that

we're men, there'll be a happy end. We'll pass the test and finish the quest for the crown. We’ll

pass the test and finish the quest. We'll pass the test and finish the quest for the crown!”

(Hillenburg 00:52:10) SpongeBob and Patrick cross through the desolate and spooky abyss of

monsters unscathed with the power of song and dance. They both travel across the long and

dangerous pathway filled with monsters and befriend them as they sing a tune, proclaiming how

they will succeed in their mission to save their home. Not many people would want or even make

it through this scary-looking and bottomless ravine that has many monsters in it, but SpongeBob

and Patrick do. This exemplifies their truly different characters in comparison to the average

person. Another odd incident takes place on the duo’s voyage home. When SpongeBob and

Patrick are stranded on the beach shore with no way to reach their home underwater, David

Hasselhoff comes to the rescue and says, “I can take you there” (Hillenburg 01:04:30).

SpongeBob questions him asking where his boat is, and David Hasselhoff heartedly laughs,

“Boat?” (Hillenburg 01:04:50) David Hasselhoff takes the two on his back to sea until he

initiates a launch sequence using his chest, sending them off on their way to save their home. As

the two characters are stranded on the shore with no way to make it back, they are saved by the

arrival of David Hasselhoff who is dressed as a shirtless lifeguard. David Hasselhoff swims out

and launches them furiously into the Krusty Krab, a restaurant and SpongeBob’s place of work.

The camera angles display SpongeBob and Patrick as short and small in stature compared to the

camera angle looking up to the strong, manly David Hasselhoff running to them in slow motion.

His appearance personifies the definition of being manly with his large muscles and strong chest

pecs that launch SpongeBob and Patrick to the Bikini Bottom, their home. The arrival of David
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Hasselhoff is odd as it comes out of nowhere, but he is the saving grace to the two protagonists

of the story as they make their way back to foil Plankton’s plot to take Bikini Bottom over.

Despite their unusual journey, SpongeBob and Patrick display their true strengths in the face of

adversity. In light of their many troubles, SpongeBob and Patrick display the

true meaning behind the word “hero.” Just as SpongeBob narrowly gives up all hope, Mindy, the

daughter of the king of Bikini Bottom, comes and gives a speech to boost their confidence.

Mindy speaks, “Hey. It doesn't matter if you're kids. What's so wrong with being a kid, anyway?

Kids rule! You don't need to be a man to do this. You just gotta believe in yourself. You

just gotta believe!” (Hillenburg 00:47:20) After Mindy convinces SpongeBob that their men,

SpongeBob and Patrick reply, “Heck, yeah!” (Hillenburg 00:48:20) On the verge of giving up

their journey, Mindy arrives in the nick of time to push the two and convince them that their

men, so that they could make it through the perilous expedition in the deep, dark abyss. Mindy’s

speech and persuasion successfully gives the two the confidence to face everything head first.

The camera angles show how much SpongeBob and Patrick look up to Mindy, the Princess, as

her appearance in purple and pink dress suggest her royalty and importance. SpongeBob and

Patrick are so inspired by Mindy’s faith in them that they listen and persevere through thick and

thin, demonstrating their gradual change in their characters along the movie. The same situation

is modeled when SpongeBob arrives at the Krusty Krab. When SpongeBob arrives in the nick of

time to save the Krusty Krab and Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob makes a realization from all his

recent experiences. He boldly proclaims, “I guess you're right, Plankton. I am just a kid. And you

know, I've been through a lot in the past six days, five minutes, twenty-seven-and-a-half seconds.

And if I've learned anything during that time, it's that you are who you are. And no amount of

mermaid magic or managerial promotion or some other third thing can make me anything more
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than what I really am inside: A kid ... but that's okay. Because I did what everyone said a kid

couldn't do. I made it to Shell City, and I beat the Cyclops, and I rode the Hasselhoff, and I

brought the crown back. So, yeah, I'm a kid. And I'm also a goofball. And a wing nut. And a

Knucklehead McSpazatron! (Hillenburg 01:12:12) In light of all SpongeBob has experienced

through this life-changing trip, SpongeBob comes to the realization that what he wanted all along

was inside him from the very start. The camera angle displays him on an equal level with all the

people in the room, indicating that he  is considered an equal to everyone. SpongeBob comes to

terms that he is a kid and nothing will ever change that. He learns to turn his weakness into a

strength and makes it a defining part of his character that he proudly lives behind instead of

hiding. At this moment, he attains inner peace with himself and who he is in his life. Ultimately,

SpongeBob reveals that all that it takes to become a hero is strength and perseverance to

overcome your weakness and turn them into your character defining strengths. The heroism

displayed by SpongeBob and Patrick reveal the true nature behind their character.

It is important to recognize the importance of every single individual and the

many capabilities that individual can achieve. Although SpongeBob and Patrick differ greatly

from the typical hero as shown in their outlandish campaign to save their home, their

perseverance in overcoming the many difficult obstacles is what truly makes them real heroes.

Each and every human being has the ability to become a hero in their own way, but it is the

choice to push through the struggle that makes all the difference.
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Works Cited
Hillenburg, Stephen, director. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Nickelodeon Studios,
2004.