Carl Roberts 
“The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants is a delightfully fun, bubbly and hilarious animated movie. It features a brilliant performance from Mark Hamill.”
Hitting movie screens this Friday is the latest animated movie from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies. It is time to set sail with The SongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants. The film is the fourth theatrical feature film based on the series. It follows The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run. The film’s voice cast includes Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, and Rodger Bumpass. Also, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr Lawrence and George Lopez. Additional voices include Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, and Mark Hamill. The plot follows SpongeBob as he travels to the depths of the ocean to face off against the Flying Dutchman. Can the film become the must-watch family movie for the holiday season? Or should it have simply sunk without a trace?
PREMISE
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.
THOUGHTS
What more could you expect from a SpongeBob Movie? Throughout the 96-minute run time, the film never fails to entertain the audience. The jokes come thick and fast, the references all land, and the film is a wonderful family film that will send everyone home with a big smile on their faces. By now, everyone should know what to expect from the filmmakers and here is no exception. It is the usual blend of comedy, moralising, cartoon drama, along with the live-action sequences that fit in so seamlessly. However, the film has an ace up its sleeve in Mark Hamill. The actor dives into his role with gusto, delivering a brilliant vocal performance as the Flying Dutchman. But when the Dutchman becomes human, Hamill gives a comedy performance that will have the entire audience in stitches. It is Hamill’s performance that makes the film shine.
ANIMATION
The animation is up to its usual high standards, delivering a visual feast for the eyes throughout. The visual gags all pop, the characters look wonderful, and the whole film feels just right. Not everything works, but that’s hardly the point. The film is designed to get the audience in, entertain them for 96 minutes, and then send them home giggling like school kids. Considering the film was originally destined to go straight to streaming, it feels and looks like a proper fit for the big screen. It is vibrant, colourful, and gloriously over the top.
VERDICT
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants is a delightfully fun, bubbly and hilarious animated movie. It features a brilliant performance from Mark Hamill. For the entire runtime, the film is inoffensive, charming, wonderful to look at, and a joy to watch. It is a great family movie that makes a great alternative to the CGI-laden blockbusters scheduled for release. Moreover, it is the antidote to the dramatic movies on the horizon. It may get lost in the clamour for those big box office Christmas bucks. However, it should easily hold its own, keeping its head above water and making a sequel an inevitability.
That’s all we can ask for from the movie: Fun. And it has it in spades. From the one-liners that come thick and fast, the moral of the story, the craziness of the characters, and the sheer delight of Mark Hamill hamming it up and thoroughly enjoying himself, the film is a winner. Instead of travelling through space to a distant planet, or battling a giant snake in the Amazon, or being brought down to earth with a dramatic movie, allow yourself to go on a trip to Bikini Bottom. Dive down to your local screen, sit back, and just have fun. It may not be a Christmas movie, but it is a great family movie to watch at the movies this Christmas. SpongeBob. Big Guy. Pants. OK indeed.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants is in cinemas from Friday in the United States. It will be available in UK cinemas on Saturday, courtesy of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
