“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” Oh, you know what that means! The most-watched kids’ franchise EVER, SpongeBob Squarepants is back with an all new movie! Are you ready to adventure back under the sea to Bikini Bottom? Known for being slightly over-the-top and edgy, is the new SpongeBob movie kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run Parents Guide and Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!
SpongeBob Movie Parents Guide + Review
Wayyyy back in November 2019 when the world was a much happier place, I traveled to California for one of the most incredible experiences of my life — The Geekly Retreat! Gosh, that feels like a lifetime ago! Anyways…we had the opportunity to visit the Paramount Studios lot — I know amazing, right?! While we were there, we were among the very first people EVER to see the SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run trailer!
Now, I was completely honest with you then, and I’m going to be honest with you now…BUT, I’ve never been a SpongeBob fan. My kids haven’t ever seen one single episode. With that being said, the trailer did make me laugh. I decided to push my personal feelings aside and give this movie a fair shot.
Would this new movie change my opinions on SpongeBob? I went into it with an open mind, and well…it fell a bit short. For starters, the plot is a bit crazy pants. It’s literally all over the place. Maybe that’s what people like about SpongeBob? I’m not really sure. But for me, I felt a bit lost.
However, while this film might not have been able to hold my attention, what about kids? That is who this movie is primarily targeted towards, right?
IS THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN KID-FRIENDLY? HERE’S YOUR PARENTS GUIDE:
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is rated PG for rude humor, some thematic elements, and mild language. It has a runtime of 1 hour 31 minutes. While I was initially excited about the time duration of this film, I was surprised that it dragged on. Usually a 90 minute flick is the sweet spot for kids so this was a disappointment.
There isn’t too much violence in this film, although a scene with some zombies might be scary for little ones.
I mentioned the plot was a bit bananas. Somewhere towards the middle of the film, it seems to turn into an advertisement for the upcoming SpongeBob show, Kamp Koral. I found this rather odd, as this film was originally made for theaters.
There were a few cameos for you to look out for — Keanu Reeves actually had a larger part than I expected, and for me was the highlight of the film. However, what really threw me for a loop was Snoop Dog. I still don’t know what to say about that one.
Will kids like the new SpongeBob movie?
I think that depends. Do your kids already love SpongeBob? If they do, then I imagine they’d enjoy this film. It’s full of vibrant colors, and is exceptionally goofy. The CGI was really impressive and was definitely eye-catching. There’s a lot of silly shenanigans and humor, which I do think kids will enjoy. Patrick is really funny — his one liners seriously cracked me up! I think if your kids genuinely like SpongeBob and his friends, they will enjoy parts of this movie. My 7 year old thought it was hysterical. However, I do see them getting bored/confused with the plot.
Overall Thoughts
Although SpongeBob was unable to redeem himself for me, that’s not to say this was a bad movie. I really appreciated the overall theme of the power of friendship. Overall, that’s what this film is all about. When Gary goes missing, SpongeBob is gutted. He is wrecked and a complete mess. You can’t help but feel sad for him missing his pet. I loved how Patrick showed his support for SpongeBob and was there for his friend. And although parents might roll their eyes a bit at this movie, it was definitely made for kids — which is not necessarily a bad thing! The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run premieres on Thursday, March 4, 2021 on Paramount+ and Premium-Video-On-Demand.
ABOUT THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN
In the first-ever all CGI SpongeBob motion picture event, SpongeBob SquarePants, his best friend Patrick Star and the rest of the gang from Bikini Bottom hit the big screen in the first-ever all CGI SpongeBob motion picture event. After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.
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