THE STORY – Desperate to become a “big guy,” SpongeBob, setting out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs, travels to the deepest depths of the ocean to follow the Flying Dutchman.
THE CAST – Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, Carolyn Lawrence, Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence, Mark Hamill & Regina Hall
THE TEAM – Derek Drymon (Director), Pam Brady & Matt Lieberman (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 96 Minutes
The “SpongeBob” empire just can’t be contained. Twenty-six years after his TV debut and more than two decades since his first big-screen outing, SpongeBob continues to soak up the spotlight with his fourth theatrical feature, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants.” It’s remarkable how popular the franchise remains today. There’s just something about SpongeBob’s earnestness, mixed with a barrage of absurdist gags, that we can’t seem to get enough of. This new film delivers on all fronts, crafting a swashbuckling adventure for SpongeBob, Patrick, and the whole gang. It may not reinvent the Sponge-wheel, but it’s a worthy splash in this long-running franchise.
“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants” opens with an even more excited SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) than usual. On this particular morning, he’s woken up an inch taller—oh, excuse me, a “clam” taller—which means he’s finally big enough to ride the giant, terrifying roller coaster in town. Of course, once he gets there, he chickens out (I mean, cannons are smashing riders to bits, who can blame him?) and is disappointed in himself. He wants to finally be a “big guy.”
While SpongeBob has always been childlike, he’s also been a grown-up Sponge with a grown-up job. Here, however, he’s treated like a six-year-old nervously moving from pre-K to kindergarten. It works well enough, even if it’s a somewhat confusing premise to hinge the film on. Still, after a pep talk from Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), SpongeBob sets out to earn his Swashbuckler’s Certificate, proving that he’s full of daring, moxie, and a whole lot of other brave adjectives. Before long, he’s lured in by the ghostly, ghastly Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill), who needs an innocent, brainless victim to reverse a spell and become human again.
Over the last few years, with “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” and “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,” the creative team has perfected the franchise’s CGI theatrical look. It’s a helpful contrast to the show’s 2D animation, giving the films a more cinematic, elevated feel. And it looks great. The characters almost resemble claymation figurines, with texture and movement that pair beautifully with the series’ trademark visual gags and silly interstitials.
As the Flying Dutchman drags SpongeBob and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) deep into the underworld, we get a glimpse of a spookier side of the sea, full of sea-bats and jellyfish with eyeballs for heads. It’s fun to see “Search for Squarepants” dip into some surprisingly creepy creature designs, even sneaking in one legitimate jump scare. The film gently pushes the boundaries of what a “SpongeBob” movie can be: spooky, surreal, and still sincerely funny. It also pushes SpongeBob out of his comfort zone as he struggles to find real courage.
Convinced by Mr. Krabs that bravery comes from becoming a swashbuckling pirate, SpongeBob becomes an easy mark for the Flying Dutchman’s traps. But as Mr. Krabs chases after him, he helps SpongeBob realize that bravery can take many forms, and that he doesn’t need to relive Mr. Krabs’ adventures to prove he’s “big and strong.” It’s a simple, even rudimentary, message for a “SpongeBob” movie, but still a sweet one. It also gives Mr. Krabs more depth and screen time than we’ve ever seen in the films, which is a welcome touch. Meanwhile, Sandy Cheeks and Plankton are reduced to mere cameos (I guess they’re busy with their spinoffs over at Netflix).
If you were hoping “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants” would change the game for the franchise, you might be a little let down. That said, it’s still pretty hilarious, at least as funny as the last few films, with plenty of genuine laugh-out-loud moments that are best enjoyed with a crowd. Plus, we get Mark Hamill as a pirate. What more could you want?
