REVIEW: “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants”

(Courtesy Paramount Wiki) 

It's interesting that we've been through a quarter century of cinema by this point. For one thing, that's also the same duration of time that Nickelodeon's most popular cartoon star has been around. Furthermore, the late Stephen Hillenburg's sea critter creation known as SpongeBob SquarePants has exceeded the network's baby posse of Rugrats with over 330 episodes across sixteen seasons. Ditto four feature films (2004, 2015, 2020, and now 2025, respectively), which puts the franchise in the rare cinematic league of animated quadrilogies. (Others include DreamWorks' Shrek, Blue Sky's Ice Age, and Pixar's Toy Story.) In his latest (fully-CGI) adventure, Search for SquarePants follows the childish yellow square dude as he tries to prove to others and himself (again) that he's a "big guy." After being duped into a dark quest in the dreaded undersea realm known as the Underworld, culinary boss Mr. Krabs, pet snail Gary, and reluctant neighbor Squidward go on a "search" to find and bring SpongeBob back—in a Winnebego, no less. 

Series regular Derek Drymon takes directing reigns and delivers the series' trademark visual comedy and silliness (not to mention smoother animation than its predecessor, Sponge On the Run), with many visual homages to numerous episodes and iconic moments throughout the franchise. For this installment, the story features amusing parodies of high school life (SpongeBob's foghorn alarm clock plays Yello's "Oh Yeah" from Ferris Bueller's Day Off in one scene) and sports entertainment, as well as live-action segments in the style of beach blanket movies from the 1950s and 60s. The same goes for some clever fourth wall breaks and self-aware gags, some brilliantly directed at the Paramount studio. (As an added bonus, the movie is preceded in theaters by an animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short, where the titular quartet battle against an AI robot—and copyright issues. Filled with homages to the 1980s, this stylized and witty short is also a clever meta commentary, with numerous parodies of Marvel and Star Wars, and age-appropriate characterizations.) 

Along with its iconic voice cast and roster of colorful characters, it’s clever that the filmmakers got Mark Hamill to voice the Flying Dutchman. And yet, I wonder why they didn’t stick with the ghostly pirate's regular, Brian Doyle-Murray. (Perhaps similar to what happened when the short-lived TV series Police Squad! became the Naked Gun movies.) As with the 2020 installment, this one also retcons certain characters, specifically the Dutchman and Mr. Krabs (apparently buff and adventurous in his prime). 

The movie has elements of dark spirituality, specifically with the aforementioned Underworld (and secret portals that lead to it), including macabre and scary images, massive action, and the sight of "Davy Jones' Locker." While most of it is in the context of a silly cartoon, the fact that the Dutchman needs somebody to break his centuries-old curse and decides to take advantage of SpongeBob’s naïveté, may give more discerning parents minor reasons to scratch their heads. 

Other than that, while Search for SquarePants is not great (it has a few familiar elements, and a few too many rear end gags), it is fun, funny, and enjoyable. For the most part, it keeps its story focused with themes of growing up (innocence to experience, perhaps?), as well as being scared and facing fears. The story gives the usually-greedy Mr. Krabs a believable dynamic with SpongeBob, and a genuine arc that it’s okay to be vulnerable and honest. Ditto themes of commending others for who they are and what they can do, no matter how zany they can be. The flick can even recall what it means to be a kid. That includes a child-like sense that comes with going to the movies. Quite a way to help wrap up 2025. 

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