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Mar 8, 2021 · These quick bursts of entertainment, with their eccentric characters, surreal energy and silly wordplay, are perfect in bite-size bits. Stretched out to 90 minutes in “Sponge on the Run,” the pacing lags, the goofiness sags, and you discover over time that there’s not much holding these antics together.
- SpongeBob and friends set off on a wild adventure, full of celebrities, laughs, and oddball antics.
- Every Exclusive Movie and TV Series Coming to Paramount+
- Verdict
By Kristy Puchko
Updated: Nov 3, 2022 8:41 pm
Posted: Feb 27, 2021 8:00 am
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run premieres on Paramount+ on March 4.
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea, boasts 13 seasons of kooky cartoon hijinks, and is finally fronting his third feature film? SpongeBob SquarePants! The giggling goofball with a heart of gold returns with The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run, a road trip romp that is celebrity-studded, candy-colored, and full of family-friendly humor.
It's an average day in Bikini Bottom. An ever-ready SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) frolics with his pet snail, Gary, before heading to work as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab. Like clockwork, Mr. Krab's pint-sized nemesis Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) will endeavor to steal the secret recipe for the delectable Krabby Patty. As always he will fail in a way hilariously embarrassing. But change is on the horizon when this aspiring "slop king" realizes the only thing standing between him and formula is the "boob savant" behind the grill. To kick SpongeBob out of the kitchen, Plankton steals Gary and sells him to the vain and dangerous Poseidon (Matt Berry), who rules over the Lost City of Atlantic City. To rescue his beloved pet, SpongeBob teams up with his BFF Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) on a quest that will take them through wild terrains, bonkers beats, and a show-stopping musical number.
Matt Berry proves another stellar addition to the SpongeBob universe. The What We Do In the Shadows star lends his bold voice and bravado to Poseidon, swiftly establishing the immodest merman as a megalomaniac from the first boom of a petty pronouncement. Whether he's hollering at his servants or applauding a stage show, Berry brings the kind of over-the-top energy that makes Poseidon snap right into place with the rest of these wild maroons.
Poseidon's kingdom is a casino metropolis under the sea, providing a dramatic contrast to the small-town vibe of Bikini Bottom. Naturally, SpongeBob and Patrick get caught up in the razzle-dazzle and sugary churros. The bright lights, big city vibe allows director Tim Hill to pack the final act with eye-popping color. Plus, this more mature location sets the stage for allusions that'll play better to grown-ups, like a tentacle parody of Kenny G or spoofs on courtroom dramas and castle-crashing showdowns. There's a healthy dose of action in chase scenes and fights, more playful than violent. Yet there's something missing that keeps The SpongeBob Movie from being great. It's just not weird enough.
Perhaps it's unfair to expect SpongeBob and his friends to still surprise us after all these years. Our familiarity with the franchise might be why mind-blowing thrills are a bridge too far. Besides, director Tim Hill has a lot on his plate here. Not only was he charged with making a fun movie with a suitably grand sense of spectacle, but also he h...
Although its story may leave fans on the surface, The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run is a wondrously wacky visit to Bikini Bottom that retains the charm of the original series. Read...
- (73)
- Tim Hill
- PG
- Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Though not as joltingly outrageous as its predecessors, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run is a winsomely wacky good time, alive with laughs and light-hearted lunacy. Full Review | Mar...
Feb 27, 2021 · By David Rooney. February 27, 2021 12:00am. Paramount Animation. There’s a touching dedication on the end credits of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run to Stephen Hillenburg, the marine...
Feb 27, 2021 · ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run’ Review: The First All-CGI SpongeBob Adventure Has His Skewed Spirit of Fun Reviewed online, Feb. 26, 2021. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 91 MIN.
Mar 4, 2021 · The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On the Run recycles one of the series’ best episodes. It’s a poppy, fun film — but also an echo of past successes. By Siddhant Adlakha Mar 4, 2021, 3:30pm EST ...
