The animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers” just wrapped its 12th season with “Some Like It Bot,” a two-parter that uses a Blade Runner parody and rude bathroom graffiti to explore the challenges of self-worth. These episodes are full of what the show does best: letting us spend time with an eccentric working-class family who love each other and pursue their obsessions, all while they deal with equally eccentric neighbors and friends. Quiet chuckles are common during the show, but occasionally you can be blindsided by something so funny that you have to hit the pause button. In other words, the show has not lost its charm after more than a decade. Why, then, do we need The Bob’s Burgers Movie?
Longtime fans might already know the answer. It is because the show has always been more ambitious than its limited, 22-minute format. Aside from the aforementioned parodies, “Bob’s Burgers” has frequent musical numbers and action sequences. The new movie gives creator and co-director Loren Bouchard a canvas he’s clearly been craving for years, and he does not waste the opportunity. More importantly, he does not forget the low-key charms that helped the show develop its devoted fanbase.
Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) and his wife Linda (John Roberts) are on the verge of losing their burger restaurant. Unless they can pay back a loan, the bank plans to seize back their restaurant equipment, and they can barely afford to pay rent to their landlord Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline). Their three children have problems of their own: it is the last week of school, and the eldest, Tina (Dan Mintz), is too afraid to ask her crush to be her “summer boyfriend.” Middle child, Gene (Eugene Mirman), knows he’s a musical visionary, and yet no one will give him a chance. But the youngest, Louise (Kristen Schaal), faces the biggest crisis: someone at school called her a “baby,” a low blow that sparks an existential tailspin. And when a giant sinkhole forms in front of the restaurant, the Belchers face ruin in more ways than one.
The scope of The Bob’s Burgers Movie is essentially one extra-sized episode, with the caveat that all the characters are given more time to breathe. We learn more about Louise’s backstory, and how her belligerent exterior hides real vulnerability. Tina has hilarious, self-aware conversations with an idealized version of her crush, learning the secrets of her heart along the way. Bob and Linda spend more time talking about their problems in private. This kind of character work means that even neophytes can come to care about the characters, while longtime fans may welcome the more relaxed pace.
Another way the movie can “breathe” is its musical numbers: there are several throughout the film, including a highlight involving circus carnies, and they are surprisingly well-choreographed. You can also see changes in the animation itself: each frame has much more detail, whether it’s the shadows cast by the character’s misshapen bodies, or little details that happen in the background. One amusing detail is how Bob’s rival Jimmy Pesto, originally a significant speaking role, is relegated to the background because the actor who played him participated in the January 6 riots.
“Bob’s Burgers” is funny because of how it nurtures the preoccupations of its characters. The writers usually structure an episode around how one Belcher cannot help but pursue their desire, even if it means abandoning decorum or good taste, but their love for each other ensures they never stray too far. Then there is the dialogue, which includes nonstop wordplay and one-liners, all delivered by voice actors who can probably perform their roles through instinct alone. As Linda, Roberts tends to be the showboat of the five principals, while Mintz is the quiet scene-stealer whose deadpan delivery provides the show its conscience. A show this beloved has an impressive array of supporting characters and guest stars, so fans may be surprised the movie’s disinterest in callbacks to the show (I was disappointed we didn’t get an appearance from Boyz4Now, the boy band that Tina and Louise adore).
There is more to the plot of The Bob’s Burgers Movie, including an elaborate murder mystery, chases through secret tunnels and silly cufflinks. The outcome is practically incidental because each source of tension is not-so-secretly a chance to highlight what makes the Belchers so cherished. They’re more tightly knit than the Simpsons and their personalities are more realistic, although they express themselves in hilariously exaggerated ways. The Belchers are an idealized family, somehow, because they embrace each other’s causes as their own and – more importantly – are always quick to forgive. That can be hard to see in the TV series because it comes alongside a constant stream of gentle lowbrow humor, but on a large canvas, the Belcher’s tightly-knit core is as big as their individual personalities.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios
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