May 25, 2022

-Review Roundup of "Bob s. Burger": chef's kiss for Belcher's film debut

Disney's first theatrical release of a 2D animated feature in years, "Bob's Burgers Movie," opened Friday, and critics are praising Belcher's first foray onto the big screen.

Early reviews for the film seem to be upbeat, if not quite Michelin star worthy. Most critics have praised the film's creative team for not attempting to make too many changes in its shift from the small screen to the big screen. As of this writing, the film boasts a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and 74% on Metacritic.

"Bob's Burgers Movie" was produced by 20th Century Studios for Bento Box Entertainment productions. Series creator Lauren Bouchard and longtime show producer and director Bernard Deliman will co-direct. Disney will release the film exclusively in theaters.

Here are some of the critics' comments, starting with A.V. Club's Allison Foreman, who was excited to see the show get a makeover for its feature debut:

It is spectacular to see Bob's Burgers' brightest elements shine on the big screen and its key The level of detail and lighting used in the close-up animation style makes Ocean Avenue feel not only more cinematic, but more real. A hamburger of all things (Little King Trashmouth in the alley, Ghost Boy graffiti on the walls), "Bob's Burger Movie" offers an adventure that, metaphorically speaking, yes, we've had before. But it's not every weekend that the Belcher family gets to be movie stars, so why not try this, today's burger:

"Bob's Burgers Movie" is also remarkable for what it throws away. As other films pursue photo-realistic animation. It stubbornly remains in 2D, as if to prove that looks are less important than jokes that come quickly and amicably like a parade of puppies. And while there are a few moments of emotional involvement (among them, Linda admits that it can be exhausting to smile), it's a relief that they don't become entrenched in life lessons. These days, most cartoons greet their audiences with either a therapy session or a primer on the ABC's of global fascism. The next time you see the Belcher family, they will probably be agonizing over the exact same nonsense. Thank goodness for that. Sometimes I crave a simple snack of meat and cheese.

Hannah Strong of Little White Lies was impressed by how well the film works as a stand-alone, and doubly impressed by its visual perfection:

The Simpsons Movie was released on the big screen in 2007, star ical and bold, whereas The Bob's Burgers Movie does not do much to change the formula that has worked so well for them. There are no major plot changes that affect the events in the show, and while newcomers may be a bit confused at first, it could easily stand on its own as a stand-alone film. Most impressive is how dynamic the animation appears on screen. The work is rich in color and the characters are drawn in a unique and expressive style. Despite being a continuation of an existing show, the film still has a few tricks up its sleeve. The bumper car chase scene is a particular highlight.

IndieWire's Kate Erbland similarly praised the film's vibrant colors and quick-witted humor:

Fear not: despite producing over 200 episodes in 12 seasons, the Emmy-nominated animated series Bob's Burgers can be converted to the big screen with relative ease. The colorful, kitschy look of the Fox hit, directed by Lauren Bouchard, is fun in feature format. The film is the first traditionally hand-drawn animated film from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures to be released theatrically in over a decade.

And Scoot Tobias of The Guardian describes the cinematic quality of the film's narrative and the low barrier to entry for potential new fans unfamiliar with the series:

[I]A film that refuses to compromise its identity for cinematic scale is a perfect approach for the "I", but it also doesn't feel like three episodes strung together. It works elegantly as a victory lap for longtime fans and as a belated introduction to the Belcher family, a family of lovable misfits and oddballs who are genuinely closer than any family on television.