User Reviews

These two episodes both have their moments and are both very funny.

Hooky: It's fishing up here on what Sandy Cheeks calls "good old dry land". And Mr. Krabs has seen this before. He warns SpongeBob not to go anywhere near the dangerous "hooks", but as we all know, something being forbidden just makes you want to do it more in the first place. This episode is hilarious. Mr. Krabs' overreaction to SpongeBob taking a break and the gift shop gag are great, but I think I like Patrick's song "We're going to the carnival" best. 9/10

MM/BB II SpongeBob wins an official Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy sweepstakes, and wins a free Magic Conch Shell in the mail. However, in the Mermaid and Barnacle Boy TV series, whenever the shell is used, it means there is danger, and pretty soon SpongeBob is using the shell as a ploy to see his favorite superheroes in person. I like this episode, although there are some MMBB's that are better. The montage is great, and also when the gang meets the Atomic Flounder. 9/10

Overall: 9/10

This pair of episodes ranks with the best of the entire series. What just tickled me was the out-of-nowhere live-action insert of the fisherman in "Hooky." It is a credited appearance by John Laurie and film director Jim Jarmusch, apparently stock footage from Laurie's short-lived IFC series "Fishing With John." I've never read how this appearance was agreed upon, except that I guess Laurie and Jarmusch are fans of "Spongebob" and Stephen Hillenburg and co. were fans of "Fishing With John." If anyone has any background on this, do share! And finally, I love the use of Sam Spence's NFL Films macho, adrenaline-laced music as a background to the anemic antics of the moth-eaten duo of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy!

It's a shame MMBB2 drags this back a bit because Hooky is such a great segment.

Hooky - 10/10 MMBB2 - 7/10.

8.5/10.