The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

 

“I’m a big boy now.”

Juvenile, jestful and generic, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is a swashbuckling cinematic babysitter designed to delight children, but that lacks the original series’ spark that so many were fond of, in a film that has bubbly animation and a fun performance from Mark Hamill but that can’t salvage what’s otherwise a cinematic shipwreck. 

Discussion Points:
For 26 years, SpongeBob SquarePants has been bubble blowing and eardrum bursting with his laughter. He first made it into cinemas in 2004 with the cult classic The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. 11 years later, a live-action CGI hybrid sequel Sponge Out of Water tried to capitalise on the superhero movie craze at the time. 5 years later, a fully CGI threequel Sponge on the Run debuted on Netflix/Paramount+. Now a further 5 years later, we have another fully CGI theatrical movie Search for SquarePants. For 25 years, I’ve been alive. For about 13 of those, I thought SpongeBob was pretty funny. But I am no longer the target demographic of this franchise, as evidenced by the chaotic crowd of kids at my screening. This came as no surprise to me (although I was taken aback by some of the parenting (or lack thereof). But I was saddened that whilst previous instalments felt like a balance of kids and broader family fun - with certain jokes for the adults, I found Search for SquarePants purely juvenile. It’s disappointing that even a very committed Mark Hamill can’t salvage what is otherwise a very generic story that doesn’t justify a cinematic experience. This really feels like a TV/streaming movie / very long episode of the show that doesn’t justify its runtime. I far more enjoyed the preceding TMNT short and would love to see another feature length film in that stylised series sooner than later. I didn’t have high expectations for Search for SquarePants and I’d be lying if I said my inner goofy goober didn’t still enjoy some beats, but even my low bar seemed high for the film by the end.