There may be no good reason for such a surreal and crazy story about a sponge living in a place called "Bikini Bottom" with a starfish as a best friend to be quite this funny or endearing.
The second feature film based on the long-running animated series, Paul Tibbitt's The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water is actually much better than it looks.
"The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water" remains true to the surrealism of its animated television roots. But it also tries to force a live-action element which isn't as comfortable a fit as a certain pair of symmetrical trousers.
People who love the TV series do so for the silly details, hilarious villains, the awesome cameos and the way Patrick shows that ignorance can be bliss. As long as we get that, it is fine.
I never know what I want from commercial animated entertainment, but I do know that I like being able to suspect that -- by the standards of the competition -- its makers might be outlaws and lunatics.