A Casual Fan's Review Of "The Bob's Burgers Movie"

“Despite being predictable in the second act, “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is a delightful romp from beginning to end.” – A casual fan’s review.

In “The Bob’s Burgers Movie“, we follow Bob (H. Jon Benjamin), Linda (John Roberts), Gene (Eugene Mirman), Louise (Kristen Schaal), and Tina (Dan Mintz) as they prep for a successful Summer.

However, their plans go down the drain when a waterline erupts in front of the restaurant, forcing Bob and Linda to try and find new ways to sell burgers.

Thus, leaving the kids on their own, who go fishing around the Wonder Wharf, to see how they can help as well. Which leads to them uncovering a few secrets about their landlord Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), his eccentric family, and the restaurant itself.

PLOT/STORY

Beforehand, I only had a passing familiarity of the show, having seen a few episodes here and there. So, when it came to the film, I was a bit curious.

Mainly because this is the second FOX animated property to receive a movie since 2007’s “The Simpsons Movie”. And that was only after 18 years of the show airing.

Despite this though, “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is a delightful romp from beginning to end.

Creator/Director/Producer/Screenwriter Loren Bouchard, co-director Bernard Derriman, and writer Nora Smith give fans of the show enough fan service and humor to appeal, all while also crafting a touching story about what it means to be brave when everything is falling apart.

But with that said, the film is not perfect. The actual plot gets a bit predictable.

This is most evident in the second act, where it switches genres from slice-of-life musical, to full on murder mystery. But, Smith and Blanchard manage to do enough with the characters and their arcs to where there is a payoff.

(L-R): Bob Belcher (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda Belcher (voiced by John Roberts) in 20th Century Studios’ THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE. Courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

MUSIC

(L-R): Tina Belcher (voiced by Dan Mintz) and Jimmy Pesto Jr. (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) in 20th Century Studios’ THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Additionally, the music was spectacularly neat. Written by Bouchard himself, each of the six songs were catchy with Bouchard giving each one, a very simple yet specific melody.

This extends into the score, where composer Tim Davies uses the melody to give the world of the show a big push, through its increased percussion, light jazz motifs, and intense trumpets.

It also spices up the animation. Which speaking of which …

ANIMATION

Fun Fact: This is the first 2D animated movie since 2011’s “Winnie the Pooh” released by Disney (albeit through Fox, but still).

And as a result, it looks very, very nice.

The work done by animation studios: Bento Box Animation, Canadian animation studios Mercury Filmworks and Toxic DNA, British animation studio Golden Wolf, and Irish animation studio Lighthouse Studios was impressive, especially in getting the 2D look down. With the exception of some CG shots, the animation feels reminiscent of films from the 2000s. The only difference being that its sharper and clearer.

Credit also needs to go to Production Designer Ruben Hickman, who provides an interesting mixture of light and shadow.

This gives the animation a unique look, showing off harsh shadows within brighter locations. It also brighten and expand the scope of the story, which itself is only set amongst a few locations.

PERFORMANCES

Reprising their roles from the TV series, the voice cast – Benjamin, Roberts, Mintz, Mirman, Murphy, Kline, and Schaal, all give solid performances with everyone having instant chemistry with each other.

However, that chemistry sometimes felt like everyone had the same voice.

This would make character interactions confusing, as you think there would be another voice, but there isn’t.

But if there was a standout, it would be Schaal as she brought out a vulnerable side to Louise that we’ve never seen before, setting her apart from the others.

There are also several voice cameo appearances that I don’t want to spoil, including one who has previously played a character on the show.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Overall, “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is a delightful musical romp from beginning to end. Bouchard and Smith created a well-rounded story with humor, heart, and easter eggs, satisfying both newcomers and long-time fans. In addition, the animation, musical numbers, and the score allows the film to expand its scope despite the limited settings.

The only thing holding the film back was the performances of voice actors and the pacing in the second act. However, Schaal being the standout almost redeems this section as it gives the film a much-needed boost. All in all, this is one I recommend fans of the show and animation in general, to check out!

Score: 3.5 out of 5