The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2025) review

Certified Goofy Goober SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) wants to prove to his employer Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) that he's a "big guy" (and has intestinal fortitude) so he, along with best buddy Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke), summons the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill) hoping he'll teach him how to become a "swashbuckler" ... except the Dutchman needs him to remove a curse, so Krabs, cranky co-worker Squidward (Rodger Bumpass) and SpongeBob's pet snail Gary have to rescue him.  Supposedly, the original intent was to make this a direct-to-streaming movie, but they decided to release it theatrically, and while it's nice to introduce these characters to a younger generation, it seems like a puffed-up TV episode that constantly repeats itself just so the little viewers and their ten-second attention spans remember what's happening.  The early episodes that late creator Stephen Hillenburg had a hand in making still remain magical but this is simply a cash-in ... although I do regret not stopping by Burger King for their limited-edition Krabby Whopper.