‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’ Movie Review: The Belchers Make a Quiet Splash Onto the Silver Screen
The Bob’s Burgers Movie introduces another hyper-popular animated television family to the silver screen. Directors Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman rely on bringing the Belcher family to the movies in a way that doesn’t feel like an extended episode. The Bob’s Burgers Movie is charming, but it never reaches the highs of the television show.
‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’ is a murder mystery
Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) and his wife, Linda (John Roberts), took out a loan from the bank to afford some kitchen appliances. However, they’re running late on the payments and will lose the restaurant if they aren’t able to pay it back. However, a series of difficulties make it increasingly difficult to bring in customers to sell burgers.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie brings back their kids, Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman), and Louise (Kristen Schaal). They intend to help solve a mystery that could potentially allow their parents to save the restaurant, but it’s about to put the lives of their entire family in jeopardy. The Belchers will have to work together to come out unscathed.
Directors Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman expand on the Belchers’ dreams
The Bob’s Burgers Movie begins six years in the past to establish context for a murder mystery that unfolds over the course of the story. In the present day, the Belchers only have seven days to pay back the bank or they will end up on the street. Meanwhile, each of the kids has their own pressures with only one week before summer vacation. Naturally, all of their problems interweave into some fairly personal stakes for each character.
The alarmingly dangerous sinkhole in front of the Belchers’ restaurant brings a whole lot of problems for the family. Bob goes into a doomsday panic, while Linda constantly attempts to remain optimistic for the sake of unity. However, The Bob’s Burgers Movie recalls a time before the Belchers had kids when Bob had a dream of having his own restaurant. The screenplay tackles what happens when an adult begins to lose their ability to dream.
Meanwhile, the Belcher kids are still young and haven’t faced the hardships of life that their parents have. They each have fantastical dreams that relate back to their own conflicts in the show. Tina desperately yearns to have Jimmy Jr. (Benjamin) as a summer boyfriend and Gene wants to finally make a band. Finally, Louise wants people to begin taking her seriously. However, each of these journeys plays into how the Belchers will use their individual skills to save the family.
‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’ is entertaining, but narrow-sighted
The Bob’s Burgers Movie fully embraces its comedic roots from the television show, especially within the first act. However, it packages it all with gorgeous, bright, and vivid animation that opens this world up more than ever before. It’s clear that a lot of attention to detail went into the visual design, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for funny signs and other Easter eggs throughout the neighborhoods.
Bouchard and Derriman’s film is essentially a comedic animated musical. However, it only puts one foot into its singing and dancing numbers. They’re fun additions that provide the Belchers a little more liveliness, but none of the songs really stand out.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie primarily succeeds as a complementary addition to the television show. It provides more background information on the Belchers and why they have some of the quirks that they do. Most importantly, it pushes their narratives forward. As a result, the movie has a purpose outside of just being another Belcher adventure.
Nevertheless, the film is a tad inconsistent and doesn’t capture the best of what the show has to offer. It tunnel visions on the Belcher family, allowing for each of them to shine. However, it blocks out all of the colorful supporting cast that the show built over the years. The Bob’s Burgers Movie is enjoyable enough for longtime fans and it actually pushes its characters forward into a new era. However, it won’t convert any non-believers.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie is serving in theaters on May 27.
