The legacy of SpongeBob Squarepants is truly nothing short of legendary. It’s so far past being a household name, it delves into my generation’s vocabulary on a more-than-regular basis. Growing up with the first few high-quality seasons and thanks to tons of replays on Nickelodeon, SpongeBob is an easy contender for the favorite cartoon of millennials. It’s no secret that recent episodes have dipped in quality, but how did the recent, supremely-delayed third movie pan out?

I went in with low expectations after seeing how the show has stayed relevant and in syndication for more than twenty seasons with trite, obnoxious writing in recent new episodes of the show. Sponge on the Run starts off with a standard stage-setting affair, almost playing out like a regular episode would. Then it becomes apparent that SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail, Gary, is missing. Wait, haven’t we heard this one before?

We have. More than once, too. Gary’s disappearance has happened in “Have You Seen This Snail?”, and we’ve seen SpongeBob lament over a missing Gary in “Dumped”. It’s clear this is nothing new, but at least this time, he’s been snailnapped and taken to The Lost City of Atlantic City. SpongeBob and Patrick set off to rescue him, and both the trip and arrival to the destination make for some great laughs with some jokes that manage to land.

SpongeBob Squarepants has been no stranger to having celebrities on the TV show, with everyone from David Bowie to Tina Fey to Pantera. But on the way to Atlantic City, one sequence sees Keanu Reeves, followed by Snoop Dogg, followed by Danny Trejo in a jaw-dropping barrage of friendly faces. This particular turn of events is a throwaway dream sequence that bears no impact on the story but is a treat to viewers here for the entertainment factor. This is the highlight of the entire movie, even if it’s so detached.

When things come to a head in the climax of the movie, there are several flashbacks from SpongeBob’s childhood days with his friends. They all take place in Kamp Koral, a clear advertisement for the then-upcoming Paramount+ series. This left a bad taste in my mouth during what was otherwise a deeply emotional scene, especially considering show creator Stephen Hillenburg had a hard stance on not wanting a SpongeBob spinoff to take place. While these flashback scenes are serviceable, it’s a shame to see a treasured franchise milked for more money, with a hyper-specific setup occurring during a critical scene.

At the end of the day, older SpongeBob Squarepants fans can give Sponge on the Run a pass. It looks to be on-par with the current state of SpongeBob, and while it may be good for some laughs, it all goes downhill where it could have shined the most. It wouldn’t be realistic to expect a franchise to be as innovative and special in its 20th year as it was in its 1st, but with so many current animated shows stealing the spotlight, it’s unfortunate to see it in this state.

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The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

5

Score

5.0/10

Pros

• Beautiful Art Style
• Strong Fast Pace
• Shocking Celeb Appearances

Cons

• Shameless Ad for Kamp Koral
• Rugged Animation Speed
• Humor Misses A Lot