Sometimes an animated film based off of an animated TV show can go bigger, louder and uncut. Such was the case with "South Park" 23 years ago, and somewhat the case with "The Simpsons Movie" 15 years ago. Geez, where does the time go? The wonderful thing about "The Bob's Burgers Movie" is that it stays on the same wavelength as the show - it is not loud, obtrusive nor does it aim to offend more than the funny bone. "The Bob's Burgers Movie" is a fun, engaging, absurd romp with one of my favorite TV families, the Belchers, and the laughs come fast and its heart is big. Please don't read that last sentence as a blurb on TV - these are good qualities for a big-screen comedy to have.
Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) runs the "Bob's Burgers" joint sandwiched between a funeral parlor and a clothing store with the occasional bug exterminator van in front of the restaurant (this is the typical opening credits scene). Bob's enthusiastic wife, Linda Belcher (John Roberts) helps run the joint, and they got three precocious kids - Gene, Louise and Tina. Anyone who has seen "Bob's Burgers" knows what to expect yet there are a few surprises in store. The movie begins with a shocking murder where a gunshot is heard at the Wonder Wharf amusement park. On top of that, the Belchers witness a large sinking hole that disrupts their business and they only have 7 days till they pay off their loan or else. How can anyone patronize their burger joint if the sinkhole is right in front of their entrance? Naive yet big-hearted Teddy (Larry Murphy), their neighbor, has some ideas such as a makeshift burger cart with imported olives to boot! Ah, but there is still that unsolved murder and the Belcher's landlord, Calvin Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), has been accused. What to do? Well, it takes the smarts of 9-year-old, bunny-eared Louise Belcher (Kristen Schaal) to find the real culprit.
"The Bob's Burgers Movie" is chock full of great one-liners, a lot of them given to Teddy ("I've never eaten outside before") and Gene ("You can't handle the tooth!"). I love the relationship between Linda and Bob where Linda is more optimistic than Bob, especially when their restaurant business is facing closure. I was not quite as enthused over the songs and musical numbers - even the series has its share of them and I would prefer less music, more character interaction if only because nobody is capable of carrying a tune. Still, I find it quite amusing to hear Tina (Danny Mintz) singing about her "summer-boyfriend" scenario as she keeps imagining the kid she loves (Jimmy Pesto's son, Jimmy Pesto being the owner of the restaurant across the street from Bob's) is talking to her though she doesn't have the nerve till...oh, I wouldn't dream of it. Her imagined horseback scenario where Jimmy Jr. is wearing only underwear and a shirt as they pass by zombies exists on that surreal playing field of gags from the show where almost anything can happen.
The movie becomes a whodunit and some of that goes a long way (let's say it involves someone we least expect and that character is an annoyance from the start). But "The Bob's Burgers Movie" works best when it deals with the family and their kids. There's Louise working on some deductive detective powers while, in one scene, her bunny-eared hat comes off (it also happened in a TV episode though we have no idea how her hair looks); Tina's obsession over kissing the boy she loves; Gene creating a new musical instrument with utensils and a napkin holder for a new band, and of course Linda and Bob doing the best they can to survive and keep their family together - that is the heart of the movie and the show. The animation is sharp and three-dimensional (just like the show), the comedy bits are often hysterical and the characterizations still hold water. Terrific fun for fans and non-fans alike.
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