Creator-director-writer Loren Bouchard’s Belcher family gets their own movie (while continuing its TV run) with The Bob’s Burgers Movie, easily one of the year’s funniest films, and an instant animated comedy classic.
The Belcher family faces a major dilemma when a sinkhole opens up in front of their burger joint. Not only does that hole make it hard for customers to enter the establishment at a time when money is tight and bills are due; the hole has a skeleton in it that gives the movie a nice little mystery at its center.
In their transfer to the big screen (I’m a little late with this review, and I saw it streaming, but you know what I mean), the Belchers maintain their rapid-fire deadpan humor, while getting a chance to sing and dance, thanks to some fun musical moments. The TV show has had numerous musical numbers over the years, and Bouchard’s latest project, Central Park on Apple TV+, is a full blown musical (and an equally funny delight), so he’s no stranger to oddly animated characters warbling.
Whoever choreographed the dance in this movie deserves a gold star. Never have animated characters had such sweet moves.
The vocal cast is a virtual who’s-who of some of the best comedic actors working today, with H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Dan Mintz, John Roberts and Eugene Mirman lovingly voicing the Belchers. There’s also the great David Wain of Wet Hot American Summer, Gary Cole, Kevin Kline and Zach Galifianakis chiming in to round out a versatile and frequently funny cast. There’s a hilarious blink-and-you-will miss it cameo by Paul Rudd, too.
The show is renewed through its 13th season, and this film is proof that the premise gets funnier and funnier as the years pass. May there be sequels—and if not, the show lives on.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie is now streaming on Hulu and HBO Max.
