The Bob's Burgers Movie - Cheap Thoughts

When the news broke that Bob’s Burgers was getting a movie it seemed…odd. Not due to the show’s lack of quality or popularity, but the fact it’s not a very “cinematic” series. Bob’s Burgers is a series about a working-class family in a small town running a struggling business. The conflicts are always small and relatable, the show in both tone and plot was grounded, there was no rubber band logic of other animated hits turned into films like The Simpsons or South Park. You were never going to see Bob Belcher fly into space, but you will definitely see him worry about how he’s going to pay rent this month. Then there is the whole aesthetic of the show, which is very minimal and to be honest, ugly. It certainly has it’s charm but it’s not exactly silver screen worthy, the most they can do to improve upon their presentation is the typical transition of TV Cartoon to Movie Cartoon: Characters now have shading. Even the more cinematic element of the show’s identity, their passion for music is underplayed in a seemingly missed opportunity when the film opens with a catchy number implying a full blown musical but it fizzles out after the second song.

This is all a very negative introduction to what is honestly a good film. The Bob’s Burgers Movie is sure to please all fans of the series, it maintains their trademark good sense of humour, family friendly and consistently chuckle worthy from beginning to end thanks to talented writers and equally talented voice cast. It’s unlikely to cause any belly buster laughs but that was never what Bob’s Burgers was as a franchise, it’s comfort food. It is something to relax to, know you’ll be comfortable and have a jovial time for the next twenty minutes, only this time it’s stretched out to an hour and a half yet maintains that momentum (however glacial it may be).

If you have never seen Bob’s Burgers, it’s safe to say you’ll get just as much enjoyment out of this picture as any long-term fan. Heck, you might even get more out of it by hopefully becoming a fan and now having 9 seasons worth of television to enjoy. It’s as simple as that, The Bob’s Burgers Movie is an enjoyable quick picture for all audiences, fans or otherwise.