SpongeBob SquarePants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas!

Movie review by Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media
SpongeBob SquarePants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas! Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 6+

Comical holiday featurette has glad tidings, some insults.

NR 2012 22 minutes
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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 12 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that SpongeBob SquarePants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas! is filmed in a stop-animation style that gives the characters and scenery a slightly different look than in the original cartoon. Expect some physicality among the cast when they're under the influence of a substance that makes them grumpy and mean to those around them, all because of a scheming antagonist who's looking to trick Santa into giving him what he wants. Kids will hear the word "jerk" multiple times in the dialogue and in a song, as well as other insults like "idiot," but the movie's jolly messages about holiday spirit carry through to the end.

Community Reviews

LoveyJack7
LoveyJack7 Adult
November 18, 2020
age 6+

Spongetastic!

Great holiday spongey movie!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
nduns
nduns Adult
November 20, 2016
age 6+

Was it really so hard to make an episode like the classics, Nick?

Seriously, this was surprisingly charming. With the series being so mean-spirited from seasons 5 to somewhere in the middle of 9, this was kind of uplifting. Here, there's a reason for the characters to act like jerks, well, except for Patrick who's still kind of a jerk even without having eaten Plankton's fruitcake. The songs are quite good and actually add to the plot, unlike Atlantis Squarepantis where every single number except for maybe the first one was a complete waste of time and effort. The humor is actually good and while Squidward does get tormented at one point, at least it's the film's antagonist doing it and not one of the protagonists, who the episode would likely want us to believe is in the right. The only downside is that, honestly, I wish this had come out earlier. This special more-or-less pretends that every episode leading up to it never happened. It feels more like something you'd expect from season 2 as the jerkish behavior of the citizens is implied to be out-of-character for them despite a boatload of recent episodes proving otherwise. Also, the animations are really good as a tribute to Rankin Bass, and even the Patchy segment wasn't anywhere near as painful to sit through as they usually are. All-in-all, for Spongebob fans, I think this is worth checking out. Seriously, if you haven't seen it, give it a go.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Christmas is just around the corner, SpongeBob's (voiced by Tom Kenny) pineapple is abuzz with preparations for Santa's (John Goodman) arrival, and Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) is hard at work plotting a way to get something besides coal in his stocking this year. What he really wants is the Krabby Patty secret formula, but since it would take a miracle to get his name from the "naughty" list to the "nice" one, Plankton decides to turn everyone else bad by passing out jerktonium-laced fruitcake. With Santa due to arrive any minute, will Plankton's scheme mean he's the only one whose Christmas wish comes true this year?

Is It Any Good?

This movie ensures plenty of warm fuzzies for your family. The first thing viewers will notice about SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: IT'S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS! is that it foregoes the TV show's animated style for stop-animation inspired by classics like Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. How this change influences your opinion of the movie depends on your loyalty to the friendly sea sponge in his original form.If the new outer trappings don't bother you, then you'll find a lot of silly laughs and holiday tidings at the hands of this spongier SpongeBob and crew.

But in the season of giving, the movie doesn't stop at comedy alone. Behind Plankton's plot is the desire to get something he didn't rightfully earn, and kids will see how his selfishness proves to be his downfall. By contrast, SpongeBob is motivated by spreading joy to others, which makes him immune to the jerktonium and able to save the spirit of the holiday.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the characters' behavior. Whose actions warrant a place on Santa's "nice" list? Which characters made mistakes but learned from them?

  • Kids: What did you think of this movie's animation style? How does it change the way the characters and the scenes look? Why do you think the movie's creators made this change?

  • How do holiday movies relate to your family's traditions? Are there any that you always watch together? What other special things do you do around the holidays?

Movie Details

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