Only the hardest of hearts could fail to be warmed by a movie that coins the phrase "riding the Hasselhoff".

Making the most of the ex-Baywatch hunk's transport opportunities is only one of the pleasures on offer in this feature length version of the most-watched kids' TV show ever.

SpongeBob SquarePants - a square sea sponge, funnily enough - hopes to be made manager of deep sea fast-food shack Krispy Krab after being employee of the day for years.

However, he can't believe it when clockwatcher Squidward Tentacles gets the gig. SpongeBob eats away the heartache stuffing ice cream at the Goofy Goober.

Meanwhile, things aren't going well at the Krispy Krab - money-grabbing owner Mr Krabs has been framed for stealing King Neptune's crown.

To make matters worse, the real thief - the megalomaniac Plankton - is busy brainwashing the good people of Bikini Bottom.

It's up to SpongeBob and trusty dimwit starfish Patrick to save the day by travelling to Shell City and recovering the stolen crown from the deadly Cyclops.

This is pitched perfectly at the type of teenager sent into hyper(active) space after gorging on coloured sweeties crammed with e-numbers.

Playing like a gentler South Park, it doesn't follow the cynically knowing road of recent cartoon fare, preferring a good natured dig at Hollywood formula fired with a goofy energy.

Finding Nemo and Shark Tale made themselves at home beneath the briny, but this creates a surreal submarine world that, perhaps, only a case of the bends could conjure up.

Unhinged and, at times, totally weird it begins to work its magic and by the end is making total sense... if you buy into the logic that you don't need a licence to drive a sandwich.

Tim Evans