Anthomation Assesses The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

Howdy guys, Anthomaton here. Today I shall review my last film of 2020, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Sponge on the Run is a 2020 animated film from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies. It is the third theatrical film based on the series, following the first in 2004 and second in 2015. The film is dedicated to SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died in 2018, and also served as an executive producer on the project. It is also the first film in the franchise to be fully animated in stylized CGI rather than traditional 2D animation. Originally slated for a worldwide theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, plans were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released theatrically in Canada on August 14, 2020, and digitally on Netflix in other territories on November 5, 2020, while it will have a premium video-on-demand and CBS All Access release in the United States in early 2021. So far, it has made $4.8 million on a $60 million budget, but those won’t stay the same for long.

When SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary goes missing, a path of clues leads SpongeBob and Patrick to the powerful King Poseidon, who has Gary held captive in the lost city of Atlantic City. On their mission to save Gary, SpongeBob and his pals team up for a heroic and hilarious journey, where they discover nothing is stronger than the power of friendship.

The story is very basic, but nothing too complainable considering that it is a SpongeBob film. What is complainable are the useless and even cringeworthy detours this movie decides to take. For example, why in the flying cinnamon sticks is Snoop Dogg in this film?! It comes right out of nowhere. They give him a rapping number to introduce El Diablo, check out the character section, but it comes right out of left field. I don’t care for it. In fact, the entire scene is out of place and unnecessary. Tell me if this doesn’t sound strange: SpongeBob and Patrick meet a tumbleweed with the face of Keanu Reeves, who tells them to defeat these cowboy zombie pirates using a coin of courage in order to pass a test that will lead them to find Gary the snail, who has been taken by King Poseidon to be used as a face moisturizer. Maybe it was to be hip with the “cool kids” or to fill its hour-and-a-half running time or both, it adds nothing to the story’s thin premise and it isn’t even that funny.

Again, the animation is in complete CGI instead of traditional 2D, and it lends itself to the world of Bikini Bottom surprisingly well. Not only were visuals very colorful, but it still had the same aesthetic appeal as the original animation. The characters look updated, but still nostalgic at the same time. Their movements still have that same cartoonish feel. I just love how whenever the characters cry, they cry out a literal waterfall. Towards the end of the film, we are introduced to the beloved cast as children retreat and how SpongeBob got to meet Patrick, Squidward, and others. This may be a nock on the story for being not needed, but little kid SpongeBob is fun to look at. Overall, the animation team at Paramount and Nickelodeon get two thumbs up from this moody critic.

The characters are still the same recognizable crew from the long-running show and their comedy translates well to the film. You have Spongebob and Patrick, the two quirky friends off to find Gary after he is found missing. There’s Squidward, who is still his moody self, but he also has a celebrity crush on this saxophone-playing octopus. Mr. Krabs is still a money-grubbing businessman. Sandy is there making scientific discoveries. Plankton is still after Krabs and the Crabby Patty formula. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s say that Plankton is the one responsible for getting the plot rolling. There is Karen, Plankton’s computer wife who is also his voice of reason. King Poseidon makes a return into the world of SpongeBob, also being in the original film, and is a power-hungry king and his only concern is to look impeccable. The only new character with a substantial role in the Obi-wan Kenobi tumbleweed voiced by Keanu Reeves. While he does give a pretty funny performance, the character itself could have been cut from the movie. My favorite joke is when the gang is running from the king’s guards after taking back Gary and Patrick decides to steal some chicken wings that were left on a nearby table. The characters still bring familiar humor and personality.

Out of all this year’s animated films based on recognizable tv shows, this one is probably the best. While the story is not very well written, the animation is well done and the characters bring some laughs along the way. SpongeBob fans will like it and so will kids looking for a simple adventure.

Score:

6/10