Animation Celebration Saturday - Plankton: The Movie

Netflix/Nickelodeon, 2025

Voices of Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Tom Kenney, and Bill Fagerbakke

Directed by David Needham

Music and Lyrics by various

We're remaining at Netflix, but going to a whole different franchise. SpongeBob SquarePants is the story of a very enthusiastic sponge who lives in under the sea and has some of the most peculiar friends in all of animation. Plankton is technically one of the show's villains, a tiny one-eyed creature with an ego three times the size of his body who is married to a computer and thinks stealing the formula for Krabby Patties will help him take over the world. Although the film revolving around SpongeBob's squirrel friend Sandy Cheeks wasn't well-received critically, it was popular enough on Netflix for them to go ahead with this one. How well does music fit with SpongeBob's oddly sunny world? Let's begin with SpongeBob as he introduces us to the world of his home Bikini Bottom and find out...

The Story: Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) is furious when his computer wife Karen (Talley) tries to make over his dreary restaurant, the Chum Bucket, to be more cheerful and "contemporary" and actually get customers. Him destroying the restaurant is the last straw. She turns into a larger robotic form with three heads and claims she'll take over the world without him. Her new fortress magnetizes the Chum Bucket, stealing it and other buildings in Bikini Bottom.

Plankton wants to get to the bottom of why Karen's behaving badly, so he lets SpongeBob (Kenny) hypnotize him to recall his past. This leads him to remember Karen's previous form as a calculator attached to a potato, which he upgraded at Bikini State University. They built their first machine to take over the world there. That didn't work, but it led Plankton to the Chum Bucket and to overhearing Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) jokingly say that the Krabby Paddy formula will help him take over the world is what made Plankton want it for his own. It's not until he encounters Karen's "Gal Pals" Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence), Mrs. Puff (Mary Jo Catlett), and Pearl Krabs (Lori Alan) that Plankton realizes what he'd been missing...and downloads her empathy chip into his own brain to see that what she really wanted all along was to be acknowledged as his favorite partner in crime.

The Animation: The SpongeBob movies have been done in 3D for several years now. This is...just ok. Everything looks the way it should, including Plankton and Karen's many forms, but it doesn't always move as smoothly as it could. Some of the 2D and 3D isn't very well-combined, either. It looks more-or-less like the TV show, which is really all this franchise needs in the end. In fact, the film looks better when it gets away from computer animation, including the psychedelic sequence where Plankton experiences empathy for the first time. 

The Song and Dance: SpongeBob was always a bit...strange...and this movie is no exception. Kudos to them for doing something a bit different with this material. To my knowledge, the other SpongeBob films are all straight action comedies. This is the first time they've done a film musical...and it's not bad. Mr. Lawrence and especially Talley have a lot of fun with the spoofs of 80's movie musical tropes, and Kenny's attempt to hypnotize and understand Plankton's overwhelming ego is hilarious. This goes slightly darker than usual for SpongeBob, which doesn't often go into complicated marital relationships or why empathy is so important for humans and AI alike, and it's rather refreshing for the show. 

The Numbers: We open with SpongeBob cheerfully introducing us to life in the colorful undersea world of "Bikini Bottom." "I'm Plankton" introduces Plankton, Karen, and Plankton's usual desire to take over the world. Karen insists that her husband "Say My Name, Karen" when she suddenly turns into a monstrous version of herself. "I Made a New Friend" says Plankton when he creates Karen as a child. He finally admits "I'm a Jerky-Jerk" to Karen by way of an apology. "Taking Over" brings everyone together to fight Karen's new forms. "Welcome Back to Bikini Bottom" is SpongeBob's big chorus finale as the underwater world is restored. We end over the credits with "You and Me."

What I Don't Like: Start with the so-so animation mentioned above. There's also the cliched plot points...and the fact that, if you don't know the show all that well, especially in its later seasons, you might be slightly confused. There are times when, despite being the title character, you wish they actually focused more on Plankton and a bit less on SpongeBob. 

The Big Finale: Highly recommended if you're a fan of SpongeBob or Plankton, or just want a unique animated musical to watch with your older elementary school-age kids. 

Home Media: This is a Netflix exclusive at the moment. 

Netflix

Family Fun Saturday - Big Time Movie

Nickelodeon, 2012

Starring Big Time Rush (Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr, and Logan Henderson), Trevor Devall, Ciara Bravo, and Challen Cates

Directed by Savage Steve Holland

Music and Lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and others

Big Time Rush was Nickelodeon's answer to the Jonas Brothers at Disney, their boy band sitcom that would appeal to the teen girls and make their boyfriends laugh. They were inspired by The Monkees, an earlier sitcom about a fictional boy band who had wacky adventures. Although I'm not sure the band ever reached the heights of the Jonases or the Monkees, the show did run for four years on Nickelodeon and seemed to be fairly well-regarded by audiences and critics. This would be their only shot at something like a movie. Is it as much fun as the Beatles movies, or should it be left behind on the tour. Let's begin with the members of Big Time Rush as spies saving the world in member Carlos Garcia's (Pena) dreams and find out...

The Story: The members of Big Time Rush are excited to be on their first world tour, starting off in London. Their manager Gustavo (Stephan Kramer Glickman) and his assistant Kelly (Tanya Chisholm) would be happier if the boys just stayed in their hotel room and did nothing before their big show in Hyde Park. That proves to be nearly impossible when they discover a strange device in Kendall's (Schmidt) backpack. 

Turns out they accidentally switched backpacks at the airport with M16 agent Simon Lane (Christopher Shyer), who was captured by the henchmen of evil airline mogul Sir Atticus Moon (Devall). Lane's daughter Penny (Emma Lahana) recruits them to find him and retrieve the Beetle, a powerful anti-gravity device.  Meanwhile, Kendall's little sister Katie (Bravo) is obsessed with princesses, to the point of convincing their mother Mrs. Knight (Cates) to date a man who calls himself the Duke of Bath (Gerald Plunkett). When Moon kidnaps Katie, Carlos realizes his dream of becoming a Beatles-singing spy is coming true...and that dream may be the key to rescuing Katie and the Beetle from Moon's diabolical plans.

The Song and Dance: I'm not normally a fan of the teen cable sitcoms of the 2000's and 2010's, but if Big Time Rush is as much fun as this film, I might have to check it out. Everyone, including the boys, throw themselves into this delightfully absurd spoof of spy capers and British brevity. Director "Savage" Steve Holland did a series of equally wacky comedies in the 80's and is definitely in tune with the material. Even Cates and Bravo have fun with their royalty-skewering subplot, and Lahana and Shyler are a riot as the actual spies. 

The Numbers: We open with Carlos' spy dream, as Big Time Rush rescues a beautiful blonde princess to the tune of "Help!" "Can't Buy Me Love" is the first chase sequence, as Big Time Rush tries to avoid Moon's men on the streets of London, only to run into Penny Lane and her van. "We Can Work It Out" has Penny sneaking them into Hyde Park for their soundcheck in some fairly absurd costumes. The boys launch themselves into a "Revolution" as they invade Moon's mansion to rescue Katie (who is the "princess") and the Beetle device. They make a big arrival at the concert in M16 helicopters to perform "A Hard Day's Night" for the adoring teen girls in the crowd. They finish with what I presume to be their own "You Want the Party," a more generic boy band pop number. 

What I Don't Like: While you don't have to be a fan of the show to enjoy this movie, it does help to be a fan of the Beatles and/or absurd rock comedies like The Monkees TV show or the Beatles' Help! to get some of the jokes and humor. It's about as in-your-face, goofy, and obvious as you can get and isn't for someone looking for a more subtle satire. Katie's attempt to shove her mother at a guy she isn't interested in just so she can be a princess can get a little grating after a while. (It's also pretty obvious this was a low-budget TV film and wasn't filmed anywhere near London. It looks like they're in generic sets that could be anywhere for most of the movie.)

The Big Finale: Nickelodeon really should dive into the musical genre more often. All of their attempts at the genre have been delights, and this one is no exception. Highly recommended for fans of spy capers or rock satire, even if they haven't seen Big Time Rush. 

Home Media: Currently on DVD with Nick's other big 2012 musical Rags and on Paramount Plus with a subscription.

DVD - Rags/Big Time Movie

Paramount Plus

Family Fun Saturday - Snow Day (2022)

Nickelodeon, 2022

Starring Micheala Russell, Ky Baldwin, Fabi Aguirre, and Shelby Simmons

Directed by Michael Lembeck

Music and Lyrics by various

Nickelodeon began making original films in 2006, nearly a decade after their rival Disney Channel put out their first films. It was 2009 before they started making musicals, and even then, most of those were based on familiar characters or extension of their shows. This one is a remake, but not of a Nick show. Nickelodeon began a unit for theatrical films in 1996. Snow Day was their third live-action film, and their first not based after one of their properties. It was a surprise hit in 2000 despite bad reviews, but how does the story of a pair of siblings who experience one life-changing winter's afternoon look with music added? Let's begin as Natalie Brandston (Russell) explains why it's so important that snow cancels school and find out...

The Story: Natalie is frustrated because there's been no snow this year, and she wants to get out of a major test. Her brother Hal (Baldwin) wants to impress Claire (Simmons), the girl he's had a crush on for years. They both get their wishes when a freak snowstorm blasts through, closing school and everything else. Natalie spends her snow day trying to keep the kid-hating guy running the snow plow (Jerry Trainor) from getting through. Hal pursues Claire with the help of his best friend Lane (Aguirre), who has her own crush on him. Claire's boyfriend Chuck (Myles Erlick) barely knows her, but she's crazy about him. Natalie and Hal's parents Tom (Rob Huebel) and Linda (Laura Bell Bundy) attempt to make the perfect pancake for their youngest son Randy (Viggo Hanvelt).

The Song and Dance: I haven't seen the original movie, but this one does have some good points. There's a few decent numbers, including the opening with the kids in the snow and the ensemble number with the cool kids "Cake." Aguirre and Simmons come off by far the best as girl who really is interested in Hal for what he is, and the sweet ballerina he wants to change for. Some of the filming isn't bad for TV, either, especially when the kids are pursuing the man with the snow plow.

The Numbers: We open with the title song as Natale and all the local kids celebrate their first snow day on her front lawn. Claire, Chuck, and their friends sing about "Cake" at the local hang-out with the waitresses joining in. Hal insists "I Need a Sign" as he laments having accidentally dumped a milkshake on Claire and wanting her to love him. The snow plow driver grumps about "These Kids" who block him from doing his job after the snow starts. Lane wonders "What If?" Hal would see her as more than a friend. The kids all skate together in the finale as they celebrate another snow day, declaring that "The Best Is Yet To Come." We get the vigorous "Everyone Celebrate" over the credits. 

What I Don't Like: Honestly, I'm not sure I'd want to spend a real-life snow day with either Natalie or Hal. Hal awkwardly chasing Claire comes off uncomfortably close to stalking at some points, especially given he knows everything about her. Natalie is a snide little brat who blackmails her teachers because she can't be bothered to study and harasses a snow plow driver who is just doing his job. She's lucky she and her two guy friends didn't get hurt or into worse trouble for their antics. 

Their parents apparently had a lot more to do in the original film, including a whole subplot with their father and a rival weatherman that wasn't carried over here. (That may have had something to do with Chevy Chase playing the father in the first movie.)  The songs are cute enough but not terribly memorable or enjoyable and are just kind of there. They probably could have remade this as a straight comedy without music. 

The Big Finale: Fine for 8 to 12 year olds who are stuck at home on a real-life snow day, but most adults will probably be annoyed or bored. 

Home Media: Seems to be streaming only at the moment. It's not currently on Paramount Plus, but can be found elsewhere.

Amazon Prime (Buy Only) 

YouTube

Family Fun Saturday - Monster High 2

Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2023

Starring Miia Harris, Nayah Damasen, Cici Balagot, and Salena Qureshi

Directed by Todd Holland

Music and Lyrics by various

The first Monster High movie was a roaring success, the number one family film on Nickelodeon and Paramount Plus during its debut week. It was such a massive hit, Nick greenlit a second film within weeks of the first film's release. Is this movie just as much fun as the first, or should it be cast out of school? Let's begin with "EekTok" videos relating the previous movie and how Clawdeen (Harris) has become famous since saving the school and find out...

The Story: On the first day back at class, were-cat Toralei Stripe (Qureshi) returns from a year-long trip to Scaris, France. She's stridently against witchcraft and non-monsters attending Monster High, having been attacked by witches while in Scaris. Clawdeen stands up to her, but she insists on protecting one's pack. Headmistress Bloodgood (Marci T. House) nominates Clawdeen and Toralei for prefect, the head of the school who sets an example for everyone else. Toralei intends to run on a platform of inclusiveness, but Clawdeen insists the school is for everyone.

Meanwhile, Draculaura (Damasen) has fallen for a handsome vampire named Ellis (Bonale Fambrini) who also does witchcraft. Witchcraft, however, is banned at the school after two witches attack Draculaura in her room. Clawdeen is now nervous about including witches in her campaign, offending Draculaura. Ellis turns out to have his own secrets. He asks Draculaura to join his coven. It's really his mother Zamara (Ana Ortiz) who is after Draculaura, hoping to use her and her magic to eliminate every vampire in the monster world!

The Song and Dance: I have to admit, I'm enjoying these films. They're a little bit better than Disney's similar ZOMBIES and Descendants, thanks to enjoyable characters and their detailed world. Qureshi is the best addition as the sassy Toralei, who having been burned by witches, believes they're all out to attack monster-kind. Frankie is just as adorable trying to control their newly downloaded powers, and Deuce, his fire-powered friend Heath (Justin Derickson), and Cleo DeNile (Jy Prishkulnick) all have more to do. The costumes and especially the makeup continue to do a decent job making the kids look like their toy counterparts.

Favorite Number: We open at school with "My Heart Goes Boom, Boom" as all of the kids describe being back after the summer. Draculaura and Ellis happily claim that the "Reason We've Got Magic" is to bring their warring clans together and make the monster world a better place. Clawdeen and Toralei claim "You Don't Know" what it's like to be an outsider. The three best friends come together to claim this is "Not How Our Story Goes," and if they fight, they fight together. "Monsters Are" is the big final number, as everyone embraces monsters and humans of all stripes and admits that one can find a friend anywhere.

What I Don't Like: The cliches run just as heavy here as they did in the first movie. You can predict pretty much everything that happens from a mile off, including what Ellis turns out to be, what Zamara's plot is, and who becomes prefict. Other characters still get short shrift, including zombie Ghoulia, Abbey Bomible the daughter of the Abominable Snowman, and half-ghost, half-human Demi Boovais, who adores Clawdeen. The "be yourself" morals continue to be pushed too hard; once again, this is not the place for subtlety.

The Big Finale: This is great Halloween party fare for 8 to 14-year-olds who are horror fans, collect the dolls, or are fans of Disney's ZOMBIES or Descendants. 

Home Media: Currently streaming only. Free on Paramount Plus with a subscription

Paramount Plus

Amazon Prime (Buy Only)

Family Fun Saturday - Monster High: The Movie

Paramount/Nickelodeon, 2022

Starring Miia Harris, Cici Balagot, Nayah Damasen, and Case Walker

Directed by Todd Holland

Music and Lyrics by Matthew Tishler, Jeannie Lurie, and Andrew Underberg

Mattel's Monster High debuted in 2010 as a fashion doll line based around the children of famous horror and science fiction characters. The line was an instant sensation with its beautifully detailed dolls and their hilarious personalities delighting horror fans and young girls alike. They continued in an online animated show and a series of direct-to-DVD animated films until 2016. The first attempt at reviving the line didn't go over very well, ending in 2018. Mattel tried again 2020 with another new doll continuity and a new animated series. This movie is the second major media release for the third generation, and the first live-action movie in the series. Does it do better with its scary school kids than the Disney franchise Z.O.M.B.I.E.S did? Let's begin with what seems like an ordinary kid joining other teens skateboarding and find out...

The Story: Clawdeen Wolf (Harris) is half-werewolf, half-human, the result of a marriage between her human dad Apollo (Scotch Ellis Loring) and her late werewolf mother. She's excited to study at Monster High with other monsters like her mother did, but the school fears humans and doesn't allow them on the grounds. Clawdeen tries to keep her human side hidden, but she does eventually tell her roommates, sweet and newly-built Frankie Stein (Balagot) and aloof Draculaura (Damasen), the daughter of Dracula. 

After their teacher Mr. Kronos (Kyle Selig) tells them about Edward "Eddie" Hyde, a half-human student who was expelled and later killed by humans, Clawdeen becomes determined to find his lab and the formula he created that could make him a full monster. Frankie and Draculaura, who has her own secrets, helps her out. Meanwhile, Clawdeen is starting to fall for Deuce Gorgon (Walker), which doesn't amuse his ex-girlfriend and mummy queen of the school Cleo DeNile (Jy Prishkulknik) one bit. Even after she does find the potion, Clawdeen wonders if taking it is worth losing a part of her, and if being two partly human is really so bad.

The Song and Dance: While this one does have a lot in common with Z.O.M.B.I.E.S, it's also less bright and shiny-happy than Disney's horror parables. My favorite character by far was non-binary Frankie Stein. They are a literal doll who may have the knowledge of great inventors in their brain, but finds they have a lot to learn about friendship. Balagot is too adorable playing Frankie as the naive newcomer who is brilliant and loyal to a fault. Walker also does well as Deuce Gorgon, who reminds Clawdeen that there's far worse abilities out there than turning into a human...like being able to turn people into stone by looking at them. I also love the costumes and makeup that do a decent job making the kids resemble their fashion doll counterparts. 

Favorite Number: We don't get our first number until almost ten minutes in, but it's the jubilant "We are Monster High" as Clawdeen - and the audience - meets her fellow Monster High students and faculty. "Coming Out of the Dark" introduces Clawdeen to her roommates and to Deuce, along with her attraction to him. "Three of Us" and "Triple Up" are Clawdeen, Draculaura, and Frankie's big best-buddy trio songs. The first is heard when they're getting ready to find the ingredients, the second after they're attacked.

Kronos (to the dismay of his students) sings his lesson about how Eddie Hyde didn't have a "True Monster Heart" and was expelled because of it. The "Good Newz Girls," several female students, provide "Here I Am" and "Spark." Deuce tells Clawdeen how much he appreciates her "Trust," even as she tries to get venom from the snakes on his hair. In the finale, when confronted by Headless Headmistress Bloodgood (Marci T. House), Clawdeen finally admits that she has "No Apologies" for who she is. 

What I Don't Like: First of all, I don't know much about the original Monster High films and books, but apparently there were quite a few changes for this third re-release. Clawdeen was originally full monster, Deuce stayed Cleo's boyfriend,  Draculaura was a lot more upbeat, and a lot of characters had accents who don't have them here. I'm more concerned about the "be yourself" morals being just slightly less obvious than the very similar plot in Z.O.M.B.I.E.S, the script that runs with every mad scientist cliche in the book, and the so-so music and unorganized dance routines. 

The Big Finale: If your have an 8 to 14 year old girl who loves the doll line and cartoon show or is a fan of the similar Z.O.M.B.I.E.S, she may have a howling good time with this one.

Home Media: It's on DVD and streaming, the latter at Paramount Plus.

DVD

Paramount Plus

Family Fun Saturday - Rags (2012)

Nickelodeon, 2012

Starring Max Schneider, Keke Palmer, Drake Bell, and Robert Moloney

Directed by Bille Woodruff

Music and Lyrics by various

By the early 2010's, the overwhelming success of The Disney Channel's original musicals was so all-encompassing that other family and teen cable channels jumped on the bandwagon. Rags was Nickelodeon's fourth and final musical film to date, and by far their most successful. How does this gender-switched modern retelling of Cinderella compare to other family-friendly versions, including the one that debuted on Amazon last year? Let's begin on the streets of New York as our narrator Shawn (Bell), studio technician at Majesty Records, introduces us to our lead characters, and find out...

The Story: Charlie Prince (Schneider) works cleaning his late mother's kareoke bar The Palace for his obnoxious stepfather Arthur (Moloney) and his annoying stepbrothers Lloyd (Burkely Duffield) and Andrew (Keenan Tracey). Arthur is convinced Lloyd and Andrew have musical talent and pushes them as a duo he calls Androyd. Charlie's the one with real talent. He writes his own music and can sing and play guitar. 

Kadee Worth (Palmer) is another talented teen. Unlike Charlie, she's one of the top musical stars in the world, but she's tired of her silly and shallow image and the egotistical rock star Finn (Avan Jogia) she's being forced to date. Her father Reginald (Isiah Mustafa), who owns Majesty, insists it's good to keep her name in the papers, but she wants to play her own songs. Charlie manages to get a job there as a janitor after bringing a CD of his brother's work for Majesty's talent show, but it's Charlie who catches Kadee's eye. They bond when she finds him trying to earn money to buy back his mother's piano and he brings her to perform on the street.

Things are looking up for Charlie when Kadee invites him to the masked ball for the talent show and he and Shawn cut a demo of his song with the stage name "Rags." Arthur takes his invitation and uses it for him and his sons, but they're booed off the stage. Thanks to the Palace's managers Martha (Christina Sicoli) and Diego (Zak Santiago), he's able to attend the ball and wow the crowd. He runs off right after kissing Kadee. She and her father want to know who Rags is, but Arthur is still determined to get his sons in front of the spotlight no matter what...

The Song and Dance: As adorable as this is, I like that it has a slight edge to it that most of the shinier Disney TV musicals lack. Charlie's world includes the rock and rap of the street along with light pop; blousy Arthur reeks of sleaze in his circa 1974 leisure suits and is definitely a wee bit darker than would turn up in any Disney project. Palmer is an attractive pop princess whose father's assistant shoves her into gold armor outfits out of the disco era, but would really rather be playing her own songs with Charlie and chasing her giant dog Trumpet. Though it's set in New York, it was actually filmed in Vancouver, and that real setting adds to that slightly edgier vibe. 

Favorite Number: We open on the street with Charlie and his buddies doing their vibrant "Someday," until it breaks up and Shawn tosses a big tip for him. Charlie dreams of stardom as he dances with a broom while cleaning the Palace with "Hands Up." Kadee's flashy introductory number is "Look at Me Now" in that crazy gold outfit with the overwhelming puffed sleeves. Poor kid. The song's good, but the outfit looks ridiculous. The entire number is an overdone mass of dancers in mock-intense poses, something most real teens would be more likely to hoot off the camera. The two show "Perfect Harmony" when they play the piano together at the pawn shop. Charlie, in his "Rags" guise, reminds everyone they're "Not So Different After All" onstage at the ball. He and Kadee come together in the end with Lloyd as one of their backup dancers for "Me and You Against the World."

What I Don't Like: For all the edgy vibes, this is still a made-for-TV pop musical. Kadee's insistence on playing her own music would be a little more understandable if her own music didn't sound almost exactly like the music she sang before and if her new image was, well, a bit more different than her older one than a slightly less flashy wardrobe. The story is a mass of cliches seen in every version of Cinderella from Sally in 1929 to that Amazon jukebox musical from last year. 

The Big Finale: It's too bad Nick doesn't dive into the genre more often. Overly familiar story aside, this was really adorable. Worth checking out at least once with your favorite young musician if you or your 8 to 14 year old loves the cast or Nick's other films. 

Home Media: On Paramount Plus and DVD, the latter paired with another original Nickelodeon musical, Big Time Movie. 

DVD - Big Time Movie/Rags

Paramount Plus