by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
12 seasons is the right time for a big screen adaptation, right? I have been a fan of Bob’s Burgers since season one debuted as a part of Fox’s Sunday night animation block. This quirky family from a shore town captured my heart from the start. The perfect balance of idiosyncratic and genuinely relatability makes the Belcher family one of the most endearing on television. This show shook up both animation and sitcoms with its fun musical mix and silly escapades. Now, creator Loren Bouchard finally takes this lovable family to the big screen.
How do you up the ante to make a sitcom feel worthwhile as a feature length film? When you are shifting gears from a 22-minute sitcom to a full-length film, the narrative needs to be something with grander stakes and significance. Where The Bob’s Burgers Movie goes is a bit darker. Murder! This film opens with a prologue featuring a murder on the Wharf. How unexpected! This added weight gives the film something to differentiate itself from the show. But on top of that, this film offers up a genuinely intriguing and fun murder mystery. The Belcher children put on the detective hats (led by the rambunctious Louise) and offer up a fun ride to discover who committed the crime. Throw in an exciting car chase and an emotionally resonant climax, and this movie offers plenty to both new audiences and loyal fans.
What else does this new film offer up to make it more cinematic? For years, fans have been treated to plenty of silly and hilarious songs during the credits of each episode of Bob’s Burgers. But this is a movie… so naturally it is a full-blown musical. The songs feel bigger, yet still capture the endearing nature of the show. They feel rooted in character and emotion, while offering up some fun visuals that feel cinematic (not just a TV show put on the big screen). Bouchard does a great job with his co-directing to make this film come to life and feel impactful for the audience. The film does seem to forget it is a musical towards the third act, but it brings the joyous fun right back around at the end. Overall, the animation looks like it has taken a step up for the big screen glow up.
But what about the rest of the narrative? Are the murder mystery elements enough? The writers on the film try their darndest to make sure that each character gets their time to shine. Bob and Linda try to save the restaurant by running a burger cart while their restaurant is blocked by a massive sinkhole. Teddy gets his moments to shine along with them, as the Wharf slowly turns on them. Eventually, their plot threads collide with the main narrative, which is the murder mystery. Tina, Gene, and Louise carry the main narrative, while each getting their own emotional journeys that carry their characters forward with strong development. They became the anchors for the whole film. There are plenty of minor threads that attempt to squeeze in each noticeable character into the film, which can make the narrative feel a bit cluttered. But overall, it is an engaging and moving story.
What are the real crown jewels of this film (and the series in general)? The characters and their voice actors. The main cast of the show led by H. Jon Benjamin all rise to the big occasion and offer up great performances. Kevin Kline and Zach Galifianakis almost steal the show with their pitch perfect turns (as always) as the high class and old money brothers who get themselves twisted up in our murder mystery. The list of famous actors that get a tiny bit of airtime in this film is crazy and unprecedented. The most important part is that every actor commits and brings this wonderful ensemble to life.
Does The Bob’s Burgers Movie live up to the hopes of fans? This feels like a bigger, longer, and deeper version of an episode in the best way. The film captures the spirit of this beloved animated sitcom. Adding in the murder mystery and making this a full-blown musical brings the needed layers to make the film cinematic. Hopefully this will not be the last time we see the Belchers on the big screen.
Score: 8/10
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