We finally got around to seeing this at the Mall of Georgia. We missed half of the trailers but it was OK, we still got there before the movie started.
The tomatometer I heard was higher for this movie than the first (74% vs. 68%), and a lot of people were psyched that this film would be even better than the first. And it is... in some parts, anyway. Most of the first half of the film just feels like an extended SpongeBob episode. So SpongeBob and Plankton team up, which I think is cool, and build a time machine to stop the formula from disappearing. One thing I must point out is the psychedelic "time-travel" sequences, which are pretty awesome. Bubbles is also a fun new character, who makes dolphin noises every few words... for some reason...
The "my leg" guy reappears for the first time since "Shuffleboarding". Look for that.
By the second half of the movie, everyone gains superpowers and goes on land to fight Burgerbeard the pirate, who has stolen the Krabby Patty formula. I'm pretty sure SpongeBob actually said it's "a$$-kicking time", but I'm not sure. There's this chase scene that goes on and Sandy becomes a real squirrel, which was probably reused from the last film's scrap heap. I don't remember much of the movie afterwards, except Mr. Krabs calling Burgerbeard "Boogerbeard" and a bunch of seagulls singing the SpongeBob theme. During the end credits, I noticed Squidward doing an interpretive dance just like the one in "Culture Shock". :D
I think I remember reading that the gang would only having 2 hours to live on land before they had to go back underwater, but I didn't see this at all in the movie. Sigh.
The Real-D 3D SUCKED. Nothing popped out. At all. A woman told me after the show that there were some bubbles trying to pop her in the face, but I didn't see any of that. What a waste of 8 more dollars. I could have gotten a Reese's Pieces along with the popcorn by seeing the non-3D showing.
The plot was hard to follow at some parts, and some parts made me wonder "what the hell is going on here?" Some jokes are funny, like the snails running after SpongeBob and Plankton verrrryyy slooowwllly. The other jokes are meh, and then there are a couple of fart jokes. At least those are tame compared to Sanjay and Craig and Breadwinners.
Overall, I have given this film a 6.5 out of 10.
Recommend to a friend? Sure, I guess.