The last theatrically released “SpongeBob” movie, “Sponge Out of Water,” opened to $55 million in February 2015. “Search for SquarePants” will release on Dec. 19.

Two-and-a-half out of five stars In the second Sponge Bob movie -- which comes nearly 11 years after the first, 2004's The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie -- things are status quo in SpongeBob’s ...