Rodger Bumpass Archives

December 19, 2025

by Carla Hay

Pictured from left to right: Barb (voiced by Regina Hall), Flying Dutchman (voiced by Mark Hamill), SpongeBob SquarePants (voiced by Tom Kenny), Mr. Krabs (voiced by Clancy Brown), Squidward (voiced by Rodger Bumpass), Gary (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) in “The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants” (Image courtesy of Paramount Animation/Nickelodeon/Paramount Pictures)

“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants”

Directed by Derek Drymon

Culture Representation: Taking place in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom and other underwater areas, the animated film “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” (the fourth SpongeBob SquarePants-starring movie in “SpongeBob Square Pants” franchise) features talking animals, talking objects and one human character.

Culture Clash: Desperate to prove that he is strong and brave, SpongeBob Square Pants asks a mysterious Flying Dutchman pirate to train him on how to swashbuckle, but the Flying Dutchman as a nefarious agenda of his own.

Culture Audience: “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” franchise and cute but not outstanding animated films.

JK Fishlips (George Lopez), SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny) and Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill) in The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon.

“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” takes some inspiration from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies for the “SpongeBob SquarePants” franchise’s fourth movie starring earnest “good guy” SpongeBob SquarePants. This movie sequel is lightweight, predictable, and adequately entertaining for people who want to see family-friendly animation that has a pirate adventure. It works as a stand-alone film for people unfamiliar with the “SpongeBob SquarePants” franchise.

Directed by Derek Drymon, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” is based on Nickelodeon’s long-running “SpongeBob SquarePants” TV series, which features an array of characters who live in an underwater city called Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) is literally a sponge. He’s a fry cook at a fast-food restaurant called the Krusty Krab. Squidward (voiced by Rodger Bumpass), a cranky and pretentious squid, also works at the Krusty Krab.

The beginning of “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” shows a pirate narrator (voiced by Clancy Brown) telling the story of the movie’s chief villain—a pirate named the Flying Dutchman (played by Mark Hamill), who became trapped underwater by an unlucky curse. Even though the Flying Dutchman has supernatural powers, he can only be released from the curse by a “precious youth with an innocent mind.” The curse will be fully lifted by sunset of the day that curse is unlocked. The curse will then pass on to the being who unlocks the curse and will turn that next unlucky being into a ghost.

The Flying Dutchman, who is human, mostly appears as a ghost in this movie. The Flying Dutchman character first appeared in 1999’s “Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost” episode in the “SpongeBob Square Pants” series. In the 2006 film “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” the Flying Dutchman is the name of a ghost ship whose captain is a tentacled villain named Davy Jones. The name Davy Jones has significance during a scene where some of SpongBob’s associates go looking for him at a high school.

Meanwhile, in Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob excitedly tells his best friend—an emotionally immature starfish named Patrick Star voiced by Bill Fagerbakke)—that SpongeBob is grown to the size of 36 clams, about one clam taller than SpongeBob used to be. SpongeBob says this growth spurt means that SpongeBob’s wise pet sea snail Gary (also voiced by Kenny) doesn’t have to be re-homed. To celebrate, SpongeBob and Patrick go to an amusement park, where the most terrifying ride is a pirate themed roller coaster called Ship Wreck.

SpongeBob and Patrick go to Krusty Krab owner Mr. Eugene Krabs (also voiced by Brown), very materialistic and greedy crab, because Mr. Krabs promised them that he would ride on this roller coaster with SpongeBob. Mr. Krabs then tells a story about he sailed with the Flying Dutchman and earned a swashbuckling certificate, which he shows to SpongeBob. When SpongeBob says he wants to be a swashbuckler too, Mr. Krabs says he doesn’t think SpongeBob is ready.

SpongeBob is determined to prove Mr. Krabs wrong. SpongeBob accidentally loses Mr. Krabs’ swashbuckling certificate inside a horizontal air vent. SpongeBob thinks going through this air vent and finding this certificate will be the perfect opportunity to prove that SpongeBob has what it takes to be considered brave and strong.

Accompanied by Patrick, SpongeBob goes through the air vent. Patrick and SpongeBob find themselves in what they find out later is the lair of a trapped Flying Dutchman, who is imprisoned in a bubble. SpongeBob finds and blows a pipe horn that sets the Flying Dutchman free.

The Flying Dutchman can immediately see that SpongeBob is the “precious youth with an innocent mind” that the Flying Dutchman needs to permanently break the curse When SpongeBob mentions that he wants the Flying Dutchman to train SpongeBob to be a swashbuckler, the Flying Dutchman readily agrees to train him. What the Flying Dutchman doesn’t tell SpongeBob is that the Flying Dutchman is just using SpongeBob to permanently the curse from the Flying Dutchman, and the curse will then be passed on to SpongeBob, who would turn into a ghost.

The Flying Dutchman has a pirate sidekick named Barb (voiced by Regina Hall), who is sarcastic and sassy but very loyal to the Flying Dutchman. In order to reverse the curse, the Flying Dutchman plans to take SpongeBob to Challenge Cove, where a series of physical challenges must be met to advance to the next level, just like a video game. Patrick tags along, but the Flying Dutchman has no use for Patrick and thinks Patrick is a nuisance.

Back in Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob and Patrick are declared missing. Mr. Krabs, Squidward and Gary go on the hunt to find SpongeBob and Patrick. Their hunt takes them to Bikini Bottom High School, where they encounter a dodgeball class lead by a shark named Coach Tuna (voiced by Tom Wilson) and find some hallway lockers that set them on a path to getting closer to finding SpongeBob and Patrick.

Like most animated films from major studios, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” has celebrity voice cast members who have cameo roles. George Lopez voices the character of JK Fishlips, a cynical and controlling movie-studio executive. Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston has the role of a ticket taker at the amusement park.

“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” is a very hyperactive movie that breezes through Challenge Cove challenges in a montage that seems meant for people who have very short attention spans. The banter between the characters is what you might expect from this type of movie. There are some enjoyable slapstick gags, while the verbal jokes are intentionally hokey. The animation’s visuals are sufficiently appealing.

Hamill’s campy villain performance is a highlight of the movie. However, when the Flying Dutchman appears as a giant, this character might be a little too scary for children under the age of 6. “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” won’t be considered the best “SpongeBob SquarePants” movie, but it’s not the worst either. If you’re not an avid fan of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” franchise, then expect nothing more that a slightly amusing animated film that’s somewhat forgettable but easy to watch.

Paramount Pictures released “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” in U.S. cinemas on December 19, 2025.

March 3, 2021

by Carla Hay

Pictured clockwise, from left to right: Sandy Cheeks (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence), Patrick Star (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke), Plankton (voiced by Doug Lawrence), SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny), Gary (on top of SpongeBob’s head) and Mr. Krabs (voiced by Clancy Brown) in “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” (Image courtesy of Paramount Animation)

“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run”

Directed by Tim Hill

Culture Representation: Taking place in the fictional, underwater places of Bikini Bottom and the Lost City of Atlantic City, the live-action/animated film “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” features a predominantly white voice cast (with some African Americans, Asians and Latinos) in a comedic adventure story that’s part of the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise.

Culture Clash: SpongeBob SquarePants and his neighbor Patrick Star go on a mission to rescue SpongeBob’s best friend/pet snail Gary, which is being held captive by an egotistical overlord named King Poseidon.

Culture Audience: “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise and people who like family-friendly animation that can be enjoyed by various generations.

King Poseidon (voiced by Matt Berry) in “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” (Image courtesy of Paramount Animation

As the first computer-generated imagery (CGI) animated movie in the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise, “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” is an exuberant and eye-catching adventure that makes up for some predictable moments with just enough unexpected zaniness to make it worth watching for anyone who appreciates earnestly goofy animation. It’s not necessary to see any episodes of the long-running Nickelodeon animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants” or its spinoff movies (“Sponge on the Run” is the third one in the film series) to enjoy the movie, although it certainly provides some better context for some of the relationships in the movie.

“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” has several scenes that are flashbacks to some of the characters’ childhoods. It’s an obvious promotion for “Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years,” the prequel spinoff “SpongeBob” TV series that launches on Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access) on the same day that “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” is available on the streaming service. “Kamp Koral” focuses on what some of the main characters did as children at Kamp Koral, and “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” gives a sense of what people can get expect from this spinoff TV series.

Written and directed by Tim Hill, “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” is the first “SpongeBob” movie to be released since the 2018 death of SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 57. The movie has a dedication to Hillenburg before the end credits. Compared to 2004’s “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” and 2015’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” there’s a slightly wackier vibe to “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,” thanks in large part to an amusing featured role from Keanu Reeves.

Things in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom are what SpongeBob fans can expect: SpongeBob SquarePants (voiced by Tom Kenny), the cheerfully upbeat sponge protagonist, is still working as a fry cook at a fast-food restaurant called the Krusty Krab, which is owned by his cranky Scottish boss Mr. Krabs (voiced by Clancy Brown). The pessimistic Squidward Tentacles (voiced by Rodger Bumpass) also works at the Krusty Krab. The tiny green copepod named Plankton (voiced by Mr. Lawrence) and his computer wife Karen (played by Jill Talley) are still scheming to get the secret recipe formula for the Kristy Krab’s Krabby Patty burgers, in order to boost Plankton and Karen’s failing rival restaurant the Chum Bucket.

This time, there’s a new challenge: SpongeBob’s best friend/pet snail Gary (also voiced by Kenny, who makes Gary sound like a cat) is stolen by Plankton, who gives Gary to the vain and tyrannical King Poseidon (voiced by Matt Berry) because the king uses snail slime to keep his face looking youthful. King Poseidon ran out of snails and offered a reward to anyone who could provide him with a useful snail. Plankton sees that offer as an opportunity to try to get in the king’s good graces and get revenge on SpongeBob. King Poseidon lives at Poseidon Palace, which is located in the Lost City of Atlantic City.

What follows is a madcap trek that involves SpongeBob and his amiable starfish neighbor Patrick Star (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) going on a mission to find and rescue Gary. Along the way, they end up in a Western ghost town, where they have some off-the-wall encounters with flesh-eating zombie pirates (portrayed by live actors), a rapping gambler (played by Snoop Dogg) and a villainous zombie cowboy called El Diablo (played by Danny Trejo). But some of the funniest scenes in the movie are with a giant, advice-giving tumbleweed named Sage that rolls into SpongeBob and Patrick’s lives when they first arrive in the ghost town. Sage is a tumbleweed with a talking head of Reeves inside the center.

Also part of these antics is a new automated computer robot named Otto (voiced by Awkwafina), which the brainy squirrel Sandy Cheeks (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence) has given as a gift to Mr. Krabs. However, Mr. Krabs quickly gets annoyed with Otto and throws the robot away. Otto ends up becoming a crucial part of how the story develops.

The movie also has some cameos of celebrities playing a version of themselves as underwater animated characters that work at a nightclub in the Lost City of Atlantic City. Tiffany Haddish appears briefly on stage as a wisecracking fish that’s a stand-up comedian named Tiffany Haddock. Jazz saxophonist Kenny G plays a plant called Kelpy G, which does a smooth jazz version of “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme from the 1997 movie “Titanic.” It’s a somewhat subversive song choice, considering “Titanic” is a disaster movie where most of the characters end up drowning in the ocean.

There are some other endearingly oddball and unexpected choices in the movie, such as a criminal trial that takes place at the nightclub. The King Poseidon character plays with masculine and feminine stereotypes, by blurring the lines between obsessions with machismo and obsessions with beauty products. It’s why King Poseidon is not a typical villain in an animated film.

“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” clearly knows its audience well, since it’s made for kids as well as adults. “SpongeBob SquarePants” has been on the air since 1999; therefore, many of the kids who grew up watching the show now have children of their own. It explains the inclusion of Reeves, Snoop Dogg, Kenny G and Danny Trejo as cameos, since these stars’ pop culture significance have a different meaning to people who are old enough remember the 1990s and early 2000s.

The movie’s very retro music soundtrack is definitely geared more to adults, with rock and pop tunes from the late 20th century, such as Foghat’s “Slow Ride,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” and Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” Weezer has two songs on the soundtrack: “It’s Always Summer in Bikini Bottom” and a cover version of a-ha’s “Take on Me” and the original song Also on the soundtrack is the Flaming Lips’ “Snail: I’m Avail.”

Mikros did the movie’s vivid CGI and animation, which is not as outstanding as a Pixar movie, but it’s better than most CGI animated films. Writer/director Hill moves things along at a brisk-enough pace, even though it’s very easy to know how the movie is going to end. “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” imparts a lot of positive messages of self-acceptance, but the characters have enough foibles and flaws to make the jokes relatable to viewers. Watch this movie if you like animated films and you’re up for an energetic diversion that might make you want more “SpongeBob” movies, regardless of how familiar or unfamiliar you might be with the franchise.

Paramount Pictures’ Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies will release “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” on Paramount+ on March 4, 2021, the same date that Paramount Home Entertainment releases the movie on VOD. The movie was released in Canada in 2020.

Tag: Rodger Bumpass

Review: ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,’ starring Mark Hamill and the voices of Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, George Lopez and Regina Hall

Review: ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,’ starring the voices of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Matt Berry, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Carolyn Lawrence and Mr. Lawrence