When I first walked into The Bob’s Burgers Movie, I knew a few things that I wanted to see, and also what I really didn’t. I wanted to see the loving family dynamic full of childish quips and frustrated groans translate smoothly onto the big screen. What I didn’t want to see was a Simpsons-esque jumping of the shark in an attempt to make the story feel like it warranted a place on the big screen. In a way, I got what I wanted, but I’m slightly conflicted if it was the right move.
Don’t get me wrong, The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a delight from start to finish. The characters are exactly what you hope they will be, the story never leaves the surroundings established in the show, and although they may not be the best the team has come up with, the songs can be a bop too. It’s just that by the time the credits roll, you can’t help but feel a little… underwhelmed. This is 100% just a bigger budget, longer run time, swankier animated episode of Bob’s Burgers.
What it comes down to, is that if you go into the movie expecting a longer episode then you will have a fantastic time. Any more than that and you may end up a little disappointed.
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Not to spoil too much, the narrative thrust of the movie is in somewhat of a pseudo-sequel to a fan-favourite two-part series finale, and although the movie works entirely without knowledge of these episodes, having the insight will be rewarding for long time fans. In fact, there are plenty of rewarding moments for fans throughout the film. One such example ( seen in the trailers) is Linda Belcher, wearing Gene’s burger costume from the ‘Burgers and Fries’ song (and, obviously the Itty Bitty Ditty Committee makes an appearance too).
Most of the laughs come from the interactions with Bob, Linda and their loveable customer and friend Teddy, and even though for the majority of the film their scenes are tied more with the subplot, the share of screen time and the main narrative with the kids feels well balanced.
By the time the credits roll, The Bob’s Burgers Movie offers up a few scenes of surprising emotional depth that will please long time fans, and potentially even bring a tear to the eye for some. The story may not work best in a feature-length movie format, but as a big budget episode of the show, fans will have a lot of fun with what is offered. There is one great song early on with reference to anxious diarrhoea that really hits home the relatable nature of these characters, and above all that’s what matters most.
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'The Bob's Burgers Movie' is released in UK cinemas Friday 27th May
Topics: TV And Film