What’s It About

Hoping to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob follows a mysterious, swashbuckling ghost pirate known as the Flying Dutchman on a seafaring adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the ocean.

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

Let me be honest with you right away: the new SpongeBob movie is just okay. It’s not bad, but it’s not great either. After twenty-six years of SpongeBob being a big part of our lives, you’d expect something a bit more special for his fourth movie. Instead, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” tries hard to be fun but misses what made SpongeBob so enjoyable in the first place. The story starts with SpongeBob waking up and realizing he’s finally tall enough to ride a wild pirate roller coaster at the local amusement park. He’s waited a long time to meet the height requirement, and now he’s made it. But when he gets to the ride, he gets scared and backs out. The coaster looks intense, with cannons shooting riders around, so I can’t blame him. Still, this makes him feel like he’s not brave or strong enough, not a “big guy” yet. That feeling drives the whole movie. Here’s where it gets odd. SpongeBob has always been childlike, but he’s also had a job, paid bills, and done adult things. In this movie, though, he’s treated like a little kid who’s afraid to grow up. It works for the story, but it feels strange if you think about it. Hasn’t he already saved Bikini Bottom several times? Why does he suddenly need permission to be brave? Anyway, Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob about sailing with the legendary pirate ghost, the Flying Dutchman, and earning a swashbuckler certificate. SpongeBob sees the certificate and decides he needs one to prove he’s tough. Soon, SpongeBob accidentally frees the Flying Dutchman from an old curse by blowing a pipe horn. The Flying Dutchman, voiced by Mark Hamill, sees SpongeBob as the perfect target. The curse can only be broken by someone pure and innocent, and SpongeBob fits the bill. The Dutchman pretends to train SpongeBob to be a pirate, but he’s really using him to break the curse, which would turn SpongeBob into a ghost. That’s pretty dark for a kids’ movie. Patrick comes along, of course, and together they end up in Challenge Cove, which is set up like a video game with different levels and obstacles. Meanwhile, back in Bikini Bottom, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Gary realize SpongeBob and Patrick are missing and go looking for them. Their search takes them to some random places, including a high school with a shark dodgeball coach. It’s just as strange as it sounds. The animation looks great. The CGI style has improved over the last few movies, and the characters almost look like detailed claymation figures. The underwater world, especially the underworld scenes, looks impressive. There are creepy sea creatures with eyeball heads, skeleton pirates, and even a real jump scare. For a SpongeBob movie, that’s a bold move. The visuals are creative, and seeing them on a big screen makes the details pop. My main issue is that the movie moves too quickly and tries too hard to keep your attention. I know people have short attention spans, but it’s SpongeBob—kids weren’t going to get bored. Still, the movie packs every minute with loud action, quick cuts, and nonstop noise. Every ten minutes, there’s another big, loud scene that starts to feel tiring instead of exciting. The jokes come fast, but many don’t land. Nothing is cringeworthy, but you’re not really laughing either. You just sit there thinking, “Okay, that happened.” The movie tries to do too much at once and never lets you enjoy a single moment. There’s also a running gag with Ice Spice’s song “Big Guy” that plays throughout. The song is catchy, but they play it so often that it gets old by the end. Ice Spice appears as a ticket taker at the amusement park, a small role that seems included just to put her name on the poster. The same goes for George Lopez, who voices a movie executive. These celebrity cameos don’t add much to the story. The main message is about SpongeBob learning he doesn’t need to change to be brave. Mr. Krabs helps him see that bravery comes in different forms, and being a loyal friend is just as important as any pirate certificate. It’s a good message for kids, especially about rejecting toxic masculinity and not letting others take advantage of your kindness. But the movie repeats it so much that it starts to feel preachy. Mark Hamill gives a great performance as the Flying Dutchman, making the character funny, scary, and entertaining. Regina Hall voices his sidekick Barb, adding some needed sass to the pirate crew. Even with talented voice actors, the movie doesn’t reach the heights of earlier SpongeBob films. The first movie from 2004 is still worth watching, and “Sponge Out of Water” had a wild, unpredictable energy that this new film lacks. Director Derek Drymon and the writers know the SpongeBob formula. They include all the usual elements: friendship, silly humor, and even a short live-action scene in the third act. But knowing the formula and making it work are two different things. The movie feels safe, as if they were more worried about not making mistakes than taking creative risks. The supporting characters don’t get much to do. Squidward mostly wears a toupee and looks annoyed, which fits him, but it would have been nice to see him more involved. Sandy Cheeks and Plankton barely appear, which is disappointing for their fans. In the end, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” is a fine way to spend an afternoon if your kids love SpongeBob or you want something light to watch. It won’t change your life, and you’ll probably forget most of it by the time you get home. But it’s colorful, fast-paced, and has some genuinely funny moments. Compared to what SpongeBob used to be—smart humor and total chaos—this movie feels too safe. It’s decent, but with a character this iconic, decent shouldn’t be the goal.

OUR RATING – A SAFE 6