The Bob's Burgers Movie
20TH CENTRUY STUDIOSIn an unpleasant and uncertain world, nothing could be more welcome than The Bob’s Burgers Movie this month. It’s like a bright spot of sunshine, regardless of whether you’re a fan of the 12-season show or meeting these characters for the first time.
As a film, the plot is fairly simple, honing in on the titular restaurant and the Belcher family: long-suffering patriarch Bob (H. Jon Benjamin), his optimistic wife Linda (John Roberts) and their three children Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal). Although the show often functions as a ensemble piece, directors Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman narrowed their focus to two subplots and the murder mystery that brings them together.
Subplot #1: The Belchers are hard up for the money – as usual – to keep their restaurant and living situation afloat. When Bob and Linda are given a week to pay back a major bank loan, they decide to push themselves harder than ever to boost sales. This is thwarted when a sinkhole opens in front of the restaurant, keeping customers away. With the help of their loyal friend Teddy (Larry Murphy), they get creative about pushing their product.
Subplot #2: Louise bristles when she is called a “baby” for refusing to take off her trademark bunny ear hat at school. In order to prove she is brave, she concocts a plan to explore the sinkhole in front of the restaurant at night, roping Tina and Gene into assisting her and videotaping it. Things go awry when she accidentally unearths the skeleton of Cotton Candy Dan, a carnival worker who went missing six years earlier. Although the police are already involved, the Belcher children decide to solve the mystery themselves – spearheaded by Louise, of course, who is determined to prove she’s fearless.
It goes without saying that The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a musical as well. Keeping with the tradition of the show, the characters often break into song, voicing their fears as well as their hopes and dreams. Tina still harbors an unrequited crush on the elusive Jimmy Jr. (H. Jon Benjamin). Gene hopes to head the most successful rock band in history and is improvising instruments out of napkin holders. Bob fears that, within a week, he and his family will be living in a cardboard box, finding himself at the mercy of bank loan officer Mr. Dowling (Craig Anton) and his eccentric landlord Calvin Fischoeder (Kevin Kline). To say the least, an unsolved murder isn’t helping his business or reaching his goals.
The film really takes off once parents and kids join together to get out of some serious trouble, leading to a comical chase scene and – literally – reaching rock bottom and fear the worst. For Bob’s Burgers, that kind of development is entirely new, but in spite of this, the movie still manages to be a lively slice of escapism and a lot of fun. Perhaps it’s because it exists in its own comforting sitcom world, untouched by the uncertainties of reality. There is the expected reasurrance that like every episode that led to it, the Belchers will ultimately be okay.
For a feature film, the show translates well but loses some of its local color. Episodes often involve Belcher’s neighbors, schoolmates and family members, but in order to keep the story taut they were most likely cut for time. Fans may miss the usual interference from Linda’s deranged sister Gayle (Megan Mullally) or the insecure meddling of school counselor Mr. Frond (David Herman), among others. But overall, that isn’t what the show is about and what should anchor a feature film. The Bob’s Burgers Movie focuses on the heart of the show: the Belchers and how in spite of their quirks and shortcomings, they are always there for each other.