The third film to the long-running kid's show lives up to the legacy of the series. It has that same slapstick and genuine hilarity of the show and that's why the films have been a tremendous success due to the faithful approach that stays true to the energy of the source material. What makes this film especially different from the two previous films, is that this film is completely CGI and is the first of the three films to have this style of animation. This new film is one of the best of the three because of its stunning animation and its comedic efforts that are reminiscent of that of the show.
Long-time series writer Tim Hill directs and writes this new film. Hill has made this film utterly beautiful and keeps the magic of this film alive and makes this film live up to the legacy status of the show. The animation like I said before, is beautiful and the first fully CGI animated film from the series. Hill's vision is truly beholden to the show's iconic comedic efforts, story, and animation.
Voicing the favorite iconic characters are the original cast from the show. Just like always, the series' iconic cast voices the characters in the amusing and hilarious way we like it. They all do yet another great job at playing the characters we have known and loved for years. I have no doubt that along with this movie, the cast will remain an iconic force in animation for generations to come.
The story in the film is essentially a longer version of one of the show's early episodes. It is similar in plot but expands and tweaks the story to differ from the episode in which the plot takes after. This take on that same plot is better than the original episode because it is more entertaining and it has more to the story to offer.
Scoring the film are Hans Zimmer and frequent collaborator Steve Mazarro. Their score is as jubilant and upbeat as the film itself. The score adds to the beauty of the film and the overall ambiance of it all. The music keeps the film alive with its upbeat and jubilant qualities.
For two decades, the iconic yellow sponge and friends have made entertainment for all ages and it has remained iconic ever since. The new film is a delight to audiences who have remained loyal fans of the series. This film shows once again that the legacy of the show and the iconic title character will live on in history as among the best shows in animation for years to come.
Rate: B+
Starring: Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, with Awkwafina, and Keanu Reeves
Director: Tim Hill
MPAA Rating: PG (for Rude Humor|Mild Language|Some Thematic Elements)
Runtime: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes
Synopsis: When SpongeBob SquarePants' beloved pet snail Gary goes missing, a path of clues leads SpongeBob and his best friend 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 the Bikini Bottom gang team up for a heroic and hilarious journey, where they discover nothing is stronger than the power of friendship.
