The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants-To Hell and Back

Aaron Cole

December 21, 2025

            SpongeBob is a big guy now. At least, that is how he wants others to see him. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is the fourth of the theatrical SpongeBob movies. It is directed by Derek Drymon, who has worked on a ton of animation over the years, including SpongeBob. Most the cast from the show voice their characters in the movie, including a few new characters.

            SpongeBob has finally grown tall enough to ride this big rollercoaster in an amusement park. He is hyped to go on the roller coaster until he gets there. He gets scared and then runs away. I can’t say I blame him on this one. The roller coaster has wrecking balls, explosions, and saws that knock the riders off. I would be scared to go on that roller coaster as well. Anyways, he runs to the Krusty Krab, ashamed. Mr. Krabs brags about how tough he is, and how he used to sail with the Flying Dutchman. Eager to impress Mr. Krabs and prove to everyone he is a big guy, SpongeBob along with Patrick, call out to the Flying Dutchman and sail with him and his crew. I have only seen the first SpongeBob movie before this one, but it seems the movies follows a different timeline than the show or is in an alternate universe. This is the first time SpongeBob and Patrick meet the Flying Dutchman. The Flying Dutchman himself is voiced by a different actor. The show version was voiced by Brian Doyle-Murray. However, the movie version is voiced by the legendary Mark Hamill. I don’t know why they got someone different to voice the Flying Dutchman, considering the original actor is still alive. Regardless, Mark Hamill does a good job. The Flying Dutchman actually has a crew this time, including a first mate named Barb, voiced by Regina Hall. They’re ok additions. The crew doesn’t necessarily add that much, but it is funny to see how exasperated Barb gets at Patrick’s antics. SpongeBob and Patrick join his crew. However, unknown to them, the Flying Dutchman has an agenda of his own. He seeks to use SpongeBob, a being who is pure of heart, to break his curse. To accomplish this, the crew needs to go to the underworld and go to the place that has a bunch of challenges that SpongeBob needs to beat in order for the Flying Dutchman to transfer his curse to SpongeBob.

            Eventually, Mr. Krabs finds out that SpongeBob is planning on joining the Flying Dutchman’s crew. Mr. Krabs tries to stop him and warn him of the Flying Dutchman’s real plans, but he is too late. Mr. Krabs then rounds up Gary and Squidward to journey with him to the underworld to rescue SpongeBob. At first, I thought the Flying Dutchman and SpongeBob arrived at their destination too quick without exploring much of the underworld. Thankfully, the movie shows Mr. Krabs and company going through the various dangers of the underworld to rescue SpongeBob. The different challenges that SpongeBob faces are also creative and funny. The climax ends with SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs chasing the Flying Dutchman on land. SpongeBob is forced to face his fears by going on the rollercoaster there. In a humorous scene, the rollercoaster is so tall that it goes over the moon. SpongeBob is eventually able to save the day by not asking himself what others would do, but what he would do, and defeats the Flying Dutchman in his own way.

            I really liked this movie. I don’t think this movie is quite as good as the first one, I can’t say anything about the other two since I didn’t watch them. The humor also isn’t as good as the some of the early seasons of SpongeBob. There are a couple minor problems. The movie begins with some hip-hop music, which I don’t think really matches SpongeBob. There is also a rift that happens between SpongeBob and Patrick that feels a little forced, but at least it doesn’t last long. I do wish that they used the same type of animation from the show. The animators do a good job with the character’s goofy facial expressions, but I feel it would be even funnier with the traditional animation from the show. Still, I understand why they used CG. Its less expensive and less time consuming. The animation is still nice and the various creatures from the underworld are cool and creative. However, the heart of the movie is the relationship between Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob. This is easily the most likeable Mr. Krabs has ever been. I haven’t watched much of the later seasons of SpongeBob, but I have heard that Mr. Krabs had grown progressively worse and more unlikeable as the seasons go on. So, this should be a nice surprise for the people who took issue with Mr. Krabs’ character in the later seasons. The fact that Mr. Krabs would go through all this trouble just to save SpongeBob is extremely heartwarming. He really loves SpongeBob, probably more than his own daughter.

            The moral of the story, if you are ever in a bind, just blow bubbles. In all serious though, this movie shows that you don’t always have to be super macho and manly in the traditional sense. You are stronger than you think you are, and that you are capable of surprising others, especially yourself. This is a great movie for kids and a solid movie for families.

Final Rating: 7.5/10