The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants Review: Big bubble-blowing boy's swashbuckling adventure is silly and sincere

Language: English

Director: Derek Drymon

Voice cast: Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Mark Hamill, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is now in theatres, and the first question one might ask is a fairly simple one - why would an adult go for this film? The obvious answer, of course, is that you might be accompanying a toddler or a child, be it your kid, cousin, or younger sibling. But would you really choose to watch this film by yourself, or with friends? Let’s find out.

First things first - the film opens with a seven-minute Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey short, featuring the Turtles fighting a robot stitched together from borrowed moves and recycled data (much like AI), before transitioning into SpongeBob’s underwater universe.

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Well, if you walked into The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants expecting mere slapstick and nostalgia, you might find yourself eased into something unexpectedly delightful. Directed by Derek Drymon and anchored by the familiar voices of Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), and Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), this fourth theatrical outing takes the irrepressible sponge on a rollicking quest that is as much about identity as it is about silliness.

There is a particular kind of chaos that only SpongeBob SquarePants understands. Loud, relentless, joyfully unhinged, and yet, strangely sincere. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants leans fully into that legacy, delivering a film that is unapologetically silly, occasionally exhausting, but never unaware of why this porous yellow optimist has survived generations of television fatigue and franchise bloat.

In a world that still sees him as a fry cook with the emotional range of a foghorn, SpongeBob sets out on a quest that involves pirate mythology, misplaced bravado, and the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill) hovering like a chaotic guardian of mischief. It’s a simple premise - SpongeBob goes on a quest to prove that he is a big, brave bubble-blowing boy by earning a swashbuckling degree, which requires guts, gumption, and “intestinal fortitude.” Simplicity has always been the franchise’s greatest strength; it leaves room for jokes to pile up, spiral out, and collide in absurd ways.

The humour is relentless, alternating between visual gags, lightning-quick wordplay, and surreal sight jokes that will have children laughing out loud while adults smirk at the sheer absurdity. Clocking in at under 90 minutes, a refreshing change for Indian audiences used to 2.5-hour plus runtime, the film moves at a breakneck pace. At times, the narrative barely gets a chance to breathe before another punchline crashes in, but the hyperactivity feels intentional, mirroring SpongeBob’s own refusal to slow down or dim his optimism.

What keeps the film afloat is its emotional honesty. Beneath the nonsense lies a gentle insistence that being underestimated does not equal being insignificant. SpongeBob’s friendships, particularly with Patrick, remain the franchise’s emotional anchor, grounding the madness in warmth.

In a year crowded with big animation and blockbuster spectacle, Search for SquarePants isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, nor does it pretend the franchise needs saving. Instead, it reminds us why we first fell under SpongeBob’s weird, waterlogged spell: unapologetic silliness, frenetic charm, and a buoyant worldview that refuses to sink. For families looking for laughs, an easy-breezy entry into the new year, and longtime fans craving a lively revisit to Bikini Bottom, this one’s worth the trip under the sea.

Rating: 3 out of 5

WATCH the trailer here:

The film is currently running in the theatres.