The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

Originally published Nov 19, 2024

I love SpongeBob SquarePants. With its unforgettably iconic characters and ludicrously clever humor, this is a show that has undoubtedly shaped a generation. While it’s easy to say the franchise is well past its prime, today marks the 20th anniversary of creator Stephen Hillenburg’s original intended ending for the series: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

This is easily one of the most quotable and consistently funny animated movies I’ve ever had the privilege of watching. Nearly every frame features a moment of verbal or visual comedy harkening back to the classic seasons. The entire voice cast is carried over from the show, and their larger-than-life personalities never feel overshadowed by the celebrity newcomers, who also suit their characters exceptionally. However, I do wish certain supporting characters were better implemented.

While it’s certainly easy to get lost in the infectiously ridiculous comedy, there are two regularly overlooked elements of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie I’d like to highlight. Firstly, the story, while still primarily goofy in nature, is surprisingly epic in scale. Think about it: not only do SpongeBob and Patrick have less than a week to retrieve King Neptune’s crown to save Mr. Krabs from execution, but they also have to save their town and friends after Plankton uses mind control to enslave them. If that’s not enough, the pair is constantly evading danger, from thugs and sea monsters, to a bloodthirsty bounty hunter and a “cyclops” who puts them on a drying rack! This movie is an epic and I won’t hear otherwise. Additionally, the film’s message on maturity and proudly owning up to your inner child is not only profound, but one that still holds up today. In the end, we’re all Goofy Goobers, and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is as fun, goofy and epic as it gets.

Rating: 9/10