Stream It Or Skip It: 'Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,' a SpongeBob spinoff on Netflix (2024)

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Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

  • Stream It Or Skip It: 'Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,' a SpongeBob spinoff on Netflix (1)
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After three feature films starring SpongeBob SquarePants, the Bikini Bottom cinematic universe is expanding to spotlight other characters. Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is a made-for-Netflix feature starring the intrepid marine-biologist squirrel who uses a diving suit to live underwater with her pals. When the entirety of Bikini Bottom is extracted from the ocean and relocated to a lab in Texas, Sandy returns to her home state to rescue her pals. The movie doesn’t stray too far from SpongeBob, though; he accompanies Sandy on her journey – which feels more like an amusing TV movie than a full-blown feature event (though kids probably won’t notice).

SAVING BIKINI BOTTOM: THE SANDY CHEEKS MOVIE: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Species-wise, Sandy Cheeks is an outsider in the ocean community of Bikini Bottom; she’s a squirrel, outfitted in a diving suit, who lives under the sea (albeit not in a pineapple) as a researcher for a marine biology firm based in Texas. She’s surprised, however, when her company extracts the town from its ocean-floor home and brings it to their offices in Galveston – and equally surprised to learn that the research lab is now a subsidiary of a water park owned by a shadowy figure. Sandy and SpongeBob – the only citizens of Bikini Bottom to evade capture – therefore set out to investigate the situation and rescue their friends. This takes them into a more hybridized live-action/animation world seen in previous SpongeBob features; much of the movie is computer-animated, but on land, there are some live-action environments, as well as a few live-action characters played by flesh-and-blood actors. It’s not the most eye-popping mixed-media combination you’ve ever seen, but it does help differentiate the movie from the various SpongeBob TV shows.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: I mean, there are three other SpongeBob movies, so you can probably figure that out. As much as Sandy’s buddy-driven mission to reach Galveston made me think of the raucous comedy Never Goin’ Back, there isn’t much actual resemblance between the two.

Stream It Or Skip It: 'Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,' a SpongeBob spinoff on Netflix (3)

Performance Worth Watching: Though celebrities do dip into the SpongeBob’s waters on occasion (Antonio Banderas once played a pirate!), the franchise is notable for its heavy and admirable reliance on real-deal voice actors, rather than famous guests. So let’s salute Carolyn Lawrence, who has been giving Sandy Cheeks her chipper Texas twang for a full quarter-century at this point! Johnny Knoxville and Craig Robinson contribute voices, and Wanda Sykes appears in person, but they can’t steal the show from Lawrence.

Memorable Dialogue: In a satirically cheerful ad for the nefarious scheme to turn the movie’s lead characters to sort of toy-pet hybrids, an announcer brags that “Sea Pals are genetically modified to stay adorable and compliant, even during aggressive cuddling! Sorry, Fido; looks like you’re out of a job!”

Sex and Skin: No worries, parents: The “Bikini Bottom” and “Sandy Cheeks” entendres are as spicy as it gets.

Our Take: The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie and its pre-pandemic companions were major kid-movie events, if not exactly big-budget mega-movies. In the streaming era, SpongeBob is a busier franchise than ever, which also means that its various features and spinoffs feel more like this year’s regularly scheduled installment rather than a leveling up (in that sense, it keeps company with Marvel and Star Wars). Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, for example, doesn’t seem like it could pass muster in theaters, especially given that the computer animation that’s supposed to mark it as a bigger feature is often less expressive than its 2-D TV counterpart. The CG is used to better blend the characters into some live-action settings, a technique that differentiates the movies from the scrappier style of the TV show, but often looks garish even (or maybe especially) on a small screen. (It’s frankly bizarre that this was directed by Liza Johnson, who made the sensitive indie drama Return, starring Linda Cardellini.) The storyline, involving Sandy Cheeks feeling torn between her Bikini Bottom found family and the actual Texan brood of circus performers she hasn’t seen in ages, doesn’t offer much in the way of inspiration, beyond a serviceable engine for episodic adventures that barely pass the 75-minute mark when end credits are eliminated. All told, the gags and kid-friendly grotesquerie are amusing and energetic, but not appreciably stronger or more special than what the loyal SpongeBob viewer gets on a regular basis.

That said, the movie’s satirical angle is a lot of fun: The villain’s evil scheme is to genetically modify and clone the SpongeBob characters so they can be sold as horrific toy-pet hybrids, meaning that the bad guys basically want in on the merchandising that has been part of the SpongeBob world for decades at this point. Here, that garish live-action/animation combo at least has some utility, as we see CG versions of the cast test-driven as playthings for marauding children. It’s a great example of how even a merely standard SpongeBob movie can still be made with energy and some inventive kid-friendly ideas.

Our Call: If this were a theatrical release, maybe it would be a coin-flip as to whether it’s worth paying money to take the whole family. But if your kids like SpongeBob and you have Netflix, it’s a no-brainer to STREAM IT (even if you personally use those 75 minutes to get some chores done instead).

Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Week, among others. He podcasts at www.sportsalcohol.com, too.

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  • Nickelodeon
  • Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
  • SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Stream It Or Skip It
Stream It Or Skip It: 'Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,' a SpongeBob spinoff on Netflix (2024)

FAQs

Is the new SpongeBob movie on Netflix? ›

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie: Netflix's latest Spongebob feature shocks – and disappoints. Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is now available to stream on Netflix. Video Player is loading. This is a modal window.

Is the Sandy Cheeks movie out? ›

Prior to its release, the entire film was leaked on January 21, 2024, as a video upload on X. Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie was released on Netflix on August 2, 2024 to mixed reviews from critics.

Is there a new SpongeBob movie coming out in 2024? ›

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024) - IMDb.

Why is the Sandy Cheeks movie so bad? ›

The writing didn't even try to make this a proper Sandy Cheeks spin-off, the story is very little, the humor is painfully unfunny, the animation is mediocre and sometimes look more fitting for a video game, the characters have barely a development for the movie, and the pacing for this is so rushed that it felt more of ...

Where is the new SpongeBob movie streaming? ›

Sign up for Paramount+ to stream this video. SpongeBob SquarePants, his best friend Patrick and the Bikini Bottom gang star in their most epic adventure movie yet! Stay after the credits for an all-new mini-movie! Now available in 4k HDR and Dolby Vision on selected devices.

What happened to SpongeBob on Netflix? ›

The streaming service decided to not renew its broad contract with Viacom this month, so Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob Squarepants, and other popular Nick series recently ceased being available for instant viewing. But this doesn't mean Netflix has lost its babysitting abilities.

What disability does Sandy Cheeks have? ›

The SpongeBob mental illness theory labels Patrick as the representation of intellectual disability, while Sandy Squirrel has Borderline Personality Disorder. Sandy's “diagnosis” comes from her extreme mood swings and impulsivity, which leads to risky activities.

Does Sandy Cheeks have a kid? ›

Sandy Cheeks doesn't have children. In that one episode where it appeared she had kids, it actually states that they are her nephews.

What will happen to SpongeBob in 2025? ›

The SpongeBob SquarePants series will become 26 years old. The Patrick Star Show will become 4 years old. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants will release in theaters. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants will release in theaters in Australia.

Who voices SpongeBob in 2024? ›

Tom Kenny, the actor who voices SpongeBob SquarePants, revealed that the animated character is autistic. Kenny, 62, recently spoke at the 2024 Motor City Comic Con in Detroit and told fans about a time he confirmed SpongeBob's diagnosis.

What is the newest SpongeBob movie called? ›

Films
TitleU.S. release dateDirector(s)
Main series
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of WaterFebruary 6, 2015Paul Tibbitt
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the RunMarch 4, 2021Tim Hill
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePantsDecember 19, 2025Derek Drymon
4 more rows

Does Sandy Cheeks get pregnant? ›

She may have a hidden crush on SpongeBob. This is supported by Sandy's pregnancy in SpongeBob n' Stuff's And a Nappy New Year!, though it's implied they split up before the events of The SpongeBob n' Stuff Movie, where SpongeBob falls in love with LightBob and she doesn't mind.

Did Sandy Cheeks voice change? ›

Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence)

Carolyn Lawrence reprises her voice role from the show in the film, and viewers meet her family in Texas when the squirrel and sponge head to save the town. Lawrence also voiced Cindy Vortex and Tuna Sue in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.

How did Sandy Cheeks pass away? ›

The autopsy reported of cocaine toxicity, alcohol in her blood stream that was way over the lethal amount and a significant amount of heroin. Sandy had committed suicide by overdose.

Where can I watch the new season of SpongeBob? ›

How to Watch SpongeBob SquarePants. Right now you can watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Paramount Plus. You are able to stream SpongeBob SquarePants for free on Spectrum On Demand.

Is SpongeBob on Disney Plus? ›

SpongeBob is On Disney+!!!

Is SpongeBob SquarePants on Hulu? ›

25 years of the most iconic laugh on TV! Celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants' 25th anniversary and catch episodes on Nickelodeon with Hulu + Live TV.

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