I saw the latest SpongeBob movie. At least, I think I did. It was in a movie theater. SpongeBob was on screen. Was it a movie, though? Or just a long episode?
You know how South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut started with a medley that set up everyone’s plot lines? It established all of the intersecting character conflicts that made the experience feel bigger than the TV show. It felt Bigger. Longer. Uncut. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants never establishes that cinematic feel.
It starts with a premise you’d expect in the series. SpongeBob is a half-a-clam taller and now considers himself a Big Boy. That leads to questioning of his Big Boy status. And he makes a terrible decision to prove he’s a Big Boy. In the end, he grows in character proving he’s a Big Boy. Roll credits.
Peppered throughout is the classic SpongeBob anything-goes silliness you’d expect, which is fun for me and gangbusters for the kiddos. Listen, I know SpongeBob is an animated character but his physical humor, or comedic elasticity, is hilarious. He contorts and twists and shakes and dances in ways that humans cannot. It’s fun to see our porous, charming little porifera buddy give it his all. He is a likable sponge.
Unfortunately there’s not much “all” to this story. I think the issue goes back to the scale established in the opening scene. Very little separates this 1-hour and 28-minute story from the 23-minute story you’d land on while surfing channels at 2am covered in Cheetos dust while sprawled across your towel-covered dorm couch. There needs to be more at stake for a big screen adaptation. I mean, SpongeBob is in peril, but we need something more on the line. Put Bikini Bottom at risk. Put the ocean at risk. Put the Earth at risk. And a perma-day-tripping sponge is the only thing keeping us safe.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is about to leave theaters. Let it. It’ll be a solid sick day pick this spring when it reaches streamers — even if the sicko is you (not the kids) day-tripping off too much purple cough syrup.
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Where to watch
Rating: PG (Me: 4+)
Director: Derek Drymon
Starring: Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Mark Hamill
Run time: 1h 28m
Post-credits scenes: No
Sequel? The five movies have earned $600M — expect a few more
If you liked The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, check out these films:
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (4+)
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) (4+)
- The LEGO Movie (2014) (5+)
- The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012) (5+)
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Find this title on the Family Film Recommendations list
