‘The Bob’s Burgers Film’ evaluate: Followers will relish this animated journey

“Hope and grit retains you out of the you realize what.” That is the unofficial motto of the Belcher household, whose misadventures and resilience have stored audiences tuned in for 12 seasons of Bob’s Burgers and counting. Now, with The Bob’s Burgers Film, they and their cavalcade of quirky neighbors go large on the massive display screen with an journey that includes a significant menace to the restaurant and a thriller that units the intrepid children on a harmful quest for the reality. And naturally, alongside the way in which, there shall be musical numbers, sung not effectively however splendidly nonetheless. 

Should you’ve been maintaining a tally of Bob’s Burgers storefront over the course of Season 12, you may have noticed the crack rising on the sidewalk outdoors. In The Bob’s Burgers Film, the crack crumbles into an enormous sinkhole that makes it not possible to get into the restaurant, effectively, except you go down the “scenic alley” that even optimist Linda (John Roberts) admits smells like pee.

The timing could not be worse, as Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) has a financial institution mortgage looming and solely seven days to pay it off earlier than their household burger joint is shuttered. Possibly they may ask their rich and wildly eccentric landlord, Calvin Fischoeder (Kevin Kline) for assist? Effectively, he is received troubles of his personal as soon as one thing macabre is unearthed from that gap. 

Whereas Bob and Linda group up with their pestering bestie Teddy (Larry Murphy) to avoid wasting the restaurant by daring and bikini-clad promotions, Louise (Kristen Schaal) leads her siblings, Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Tina (Dan Mintz), on a mission to avoid wasting the day by different, extra outrageous means.

This pitches the animated clan into the musty whimsy of Surprise Wharf, the crusty charms of Carnieapolis, and radical fantasies involving music-hating robots, romantic horse rides, and ruthless comeuppances. Simply one other day for the Belchers, actually, however this time it is cinematic! 

The Bob’s Burgers Film brings cinematic spectacle to this contemporary sitcom household

From the first trailers, followers received a style of what co-creator Loren Bouchard and his co-director Bernard Derriman have been bringing to the beloved TV present’s film spinoff. Mainly, shadows.

Whereas a lot of the sequence is evenly “lit” and thereby fairly flat in look, the Belchers’ residence and restaurant at the moment are draped in shadows.

This brings a welcomed sense of dimension that performs effectively on a theater display screen. Past that, it brews an environment of desperation as Bob groans over the seeming doom of his dream and the darkish path that his children are tumbling down.

Flashier although are the musical numbers, which is nothing new to the sequence, as characters are susceptible to bounce into songs honest and absurd. However now, they have a much bigger finances to actually construct up the forged and choreography. 

The Bob’s Burgers Film is a musical that followers will adore

Credit score: 20th Century Studios

A part of the distinctive pleasure of the songs featured in Bob’s Burgers is that they don’t seem to be precisely good. Not one of the Belchers have a lot of a singing voice, even the music-obsessed Gene. However each music on the present embraced these quirks, leaning into the eagerness of the efficiency, turning a ballad about being caught on the bathroom right into a hovering music of triumph, regardless of its flat and squawking duet.

Within the film, there are songs about morning routines, summer time aspirations, and — in fact — class inequity that rankle on the core of Seymour’s Bay. Bouchard grows his forged of characters to a rousing troupe of carnies, who exuberantly dance whereas griping in a jam known as “Fortunate Geese.” However all of the Belchers get a little bit of an improve of their motion, due to animation that makes use of each body to specific. 

The Bob’s Burgers Film presents acquainted threads and recent reveals

Credit score: 20th Century Studios

Whereas Bouchard assures that even newbies to Bob’s Burgers can benefit from the film, there are many established arcs baked into its tasty recipe.

In fact, cash troubles are nothing new for Bob and Linda, neither is Teddy’s overeagerness to assist (and awkwardly wedge his method into the household). Louise being hard-headed however big-hearted is a well-known beat, as is Gene dreaming up a singular imaginative and prescient of rock stardom and Tina chasing after that shallow cad, Jimmy Jr.

Additionally popping up into the plot are a slew of beloved supporting gamers, together with (however not restricted to) Mr. Frond (David Herman), Common-Sized Rudy (Brian Huskey), Sergeant Bosco (Gary Cole), Chloe Barbash (Stephanie Beatriz), and financial institution robber-turned-carnie Mickey. However long-time followers will thrill over two large reveals which have lengthy been quietly brewing curiosities on the present, together with the origins of Louise’s signature bunny ears hat. 

The Bob’s Burgers Film is wobbly however fantastic 

Credit score: 20th Century Studios

Bouchard and his troupe carry loads of moxie to this film. The animation crackles with the improved expression. The voice forged is reliably vigorous, whether or not muttering in dread or bursting into music.

However The Bob’s Burgers Film falls prey to Sitcom Syndrome, in that regardless of how excessive the stakes get, regardless of how low the lows sink, it nonetheless has to finish kind of the place it began in order that Season 13 can choose up with out difficulty. This retains Bouchard and his fellow screenwriters, Jim Dauterive and Nora Smith, from doing something really daring with the plot.

When it is clear somebody should pay a horrible value for what’s uncovered in that sinkhole, we would be capable of benefit from the bumper automotive journey, stuffed with jolts and enjoyable. However we additionally know we cannot actually go anyplace new. You do not need to lose a significant character when the present remains to be going robust. This makes a selected climactic music quantity really feel extra overdone and — effectively, not dry, however actually underwhelming. 

Regardless of my quibble with its third act, this long-time fan of Bob’s Burgers and Bouchard (search out Dwelling Films) discovered an surprising pleasure in seeing The Bob’s Burgers Film in theaters: watching it with different deep-cut followers.

For over a decade, it is a present I’ve turned to again and again for laughs, consolation, and catharsis, however in my own residence. So, once I might hear others within the theater chortling over Gene’s goofy one-liners or chirping in recognition of a callback or gasping over a stunning reveal, it was exhilarating, partly as a result of it was a reminder of what a fervent fan following this household has and the way I’m one in all many.

There was a jolt of pleasure each time we laughed collectively, sharing in our appreciation for an grownup animation sequence that’s unapologetically goofy and heartfelt — and sometimes gross!

In the long run, The Bob’s Burgers Film is a celebration of not simply its characters, however of the followers whose devotion has introduced them to theaters. 

The Bob’s Burgers Film opens in theaters Could 27.