Someday, the world in unison might embrace the delightful micro-insanity that is “Bob’s Burgers.” I don’t expect this to be that day … but it can’t hurt, for Bob and his family have finally made the big screen. Woo!
I know. I know. Don’t lecture me on your hesitation, cuz I’ve been there. The animation is crappy. “Isn’t this just a knock-off Simpsons?” “Why does every character have black hair?” I’ve used many an excuse to avoid “Bob’s Burgers” including the assumption that Bob’s was just another in the series of rotating animated mediocrity on FOX Sundays currently including that Duncan thing and that one where Jesus haunts a Southern Denny’s. But one day, I realized that if I loved “Dr. Katz” and “Archer” then I should be willing to give H. Jon Benjamin a shot at entertaining me as a short-order cook … and I never looked back.
I have watched over thirty seasons of Simpsons and I can say without exaggeration that I’d sooner be entertained by the Belcher trio of kids than by Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. No question.
All right, some background: the Belchers are a lower-middle class family who live above the restaurant they own and operate. Bob (voice of Benjamin) makes yummy gourmet hamburgers that nobody eats. His wife Linda (John Roberts, yes, Linda is voiced by a man) helps him run the store when she’s not indulging the alley raccoons or her random flights-of-fancy. Eldest child Tina (Dan Mintz, yes, Tina is also voiced by a man) is into quiet desperation and writing erotic fiction. The only son, Gene (Eugene Mirman) dreams of anything so long as it’s both impractical and unattainable, while the youngest, the perpetually rabbit-eared Louise (Kristen Schaal) is the leader of the children, nay the family, for the ever-scheming youngster has learned to turn her insecurities into aggression. Every week, one family member has an issue and every other family member gets sucked into their vortex. For the movie, the issue is the vortex itself, almost literally, for a giant sinkhole has emerged immediately in front of the restaurant making entry impassable (impossible? Impassable?) .
Did I mention this show always has great music? I prob didn’t. Aside from unique gems like “BM in the PM” and “ Nice Things Are Nice,” “Bob’s Burgers” also had an entire episode dedicated to rival Die Hard and Working Girl musicals.
Anyway, The Bob’s Burgers Movie immediately introduces a round-robin of character insecurities: Bob and Linda 
are denied a home/business loan extension. The bank gives them a week to pay or forfeit, which exactly coincides with a new sinkhole making their property inaccessible. Meanwhile, Tina is dreaming about a summer boyfriend, Gene is dreaming about gathering a summer band; Gene plays the straw. Yes, the straw. Out to prove she’s above rabbit-ear dependency, Louise scales the sinkhole only to find a skeleton. Oh uh, somebody’s done been murdered. Can the kids solve it? Can the sinkhole be repaired in time to save the restaurant?
Probably not.
Hmmm, so this is actually a fairly typical Bob plot: the kids and parents have their own running stories which are –at first-independent and then come together. If you, say, described a random plot as “animated show where kids try to solve a murder and everybody ends up in a climax chase involving untethered carnival vehicles,” I’d say, “Yeah, that’s probably Bob’s Burgers.” Am I delighted this came to the big screen? Am I ever! Is there enough here so that a Bob’s initiate can enjoy? I think so, yes. Is this the work that makes the world suddenly notice “Bob’s Burgers?” Sadly, no. But the few of us in the know are lovin’ it.
Bob’s craft is mere child’s play
He’s the king of the greasy bouquet
The man is renowned
Best burgers in town
Sadly, this is Taco Tuesday.
Rated PG-13, 102 Minutes
Director: Loren Bouchard, Bernard Derriman
Writer: Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith
Genre: Things maybe you could give a chance
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Fans of animated silliness
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Fans of Thai?
