The jump to television to the big screen has proven highly successful for such animated shows as South Park and The Simpsons, which makes all the sense in the world that Bob’s Burgers, the Fox show that had the weight of filling in for Mike Judge’s beloved King of the Hill, sandwiched between both The Simpsons and Family Guy would follow suit. The show, first airing in 2011, which focuses on the Belcher family and their small little burger joint, has become a consistent source of entertainment over the past decade and has successfully woven its way into pop culture. The quirky characters, distinct voice cast and peculiar sense of humor has garnered an audience around the world and has become one of the most celebrated animated shows of the past two decades. Their foray into the realm of cinema doesn’t nearly match the heights of The Simpsons Movie or South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, but it is a consistently witty and good-hearted time that will appeal more directly to fans of the show than casual filmgoers looking for a quirky adventure.
Stress is at an all-time high for the Belcher family. Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) are in danger of looking their restaurant if they don’t pay the bank within a week. Meanwhile, a giant sinkhole erupts in front of the restaurant’s entrance, causing further stress. The kids, Louise (Kristen Schaal) the youngest and craziest of the family, Gene (Eugene Mirman) the bored and slightly oafish middle child and Tina (Dan Mintz), the shy and ever-relatable eldest child, discover a body found in the sinkhole causing their landlord, Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), to be blamed for the murder. As Bob and Linda seek to raise enough money to pay off the bank, the kids decide to solve the mystery behind the dead body as the family finds themselves in more than they bargained for.
Directed by co-creator, Loren Bouchard and regular series director, Bernard Derriman, The Bob’s Burgers Movie does live up to its title by feeling like a true cinematic outing, comparted to the series. While the scope of the film doesn’t expand much beyond the usual series limits, the storytelling and animation feels grander, with several musical numbers that work to broaden the ambition of the show. In fact, much of the funniest zingers and impressive animation comes in the musical numbers, even if these aren’t songs you’re likely to listen to on repeat.
While large guffaws are sparring, the film does generate a healthy amount of witty writing and amusing visuals. The voice cast is just as entertaining, with the relationship between Bob and Linda proving to be quite endearing. H. Jon Benjamin’s dry, deadpan deliver, personally, never fails to get a laugh out of this writer. You may also know as the voice of Sterling Archer, of the incredible series, Archer. The banter between the three kids is always snappy and has a distinct sense of humor. Some of the funniest moments are between the three kids as they day dream and fantasize some crazy endeavors involving
Speaking from the perspective as a casual fan of the show, if you’ve never seen an episode of Bob’s Burgers, there’s very little here for you. While not a particularly dense or complicated series, the film doesn’t go out of its way to catch you up on all the characters and their relationships. Some side characters come and go with little to no understanding of who they are if you’ve never seen them before and there are a number of callbacks that will most certainly go over the heads of non-hardcore fans.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie will undoubtedly be a winning success in the eyes of every hardcore fan. Even if you’re a casual fan, there’s enough enjoyment out of seeing these characters on the big screen and the added bonus of a major film budget. However, if you are unfamiliar with the property, you may not fully be on this films wavelength,
Woah, I didn’t know there was a Bob’s Burgers movie out? When did this happen?
Sounds very interesting. I might need to see it: since it’s animated but tell the truth about a lot of stuff people can’t see. I’m talking about the whole skim picture of our daily life’s.
It was ok. The musical aspect of it took me out of it. But other then that it was a cute and pretty funny movie. Id give it a 7/10.
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