The jump from small to big only really works when you stay true to your core…

In theatres tomorrow, The Bob’s Burgers Movie does with a shocking amount of ease and aplomb exactly what it was supposed to do.  It ropes in new audiences with its sharp and playful humor while still being true to the spirit of the TV show.

The story begins when a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers’ plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope and fight to get back behind the counter, where they belong.

As this film manages to bring heart, comedy and a slightly bigger scale to the big screen, The Bob’s Burgers Movie partly feels like a victory lap for the creators who have been running with this show for over a decade and a belated introduction for those who haven’t quite gotten to the show in their Disney+ cue.  It’s rare to have an intellectual property that has charm for days, but in its own awkward way, Bob’s Burgers has that in spades.

You make this movie when you know you have a show that is likely going to run for another decade or so.  It was smart, slick and never pushed too far outside of its comfortable sitcomesque shell to give audiences something delightfully affable.

While the team involved her undoubtedly pushed it a little longer then it needed to be with a plot that really doesn’t kick in until the second act, this is really a fantastic example of how you adapt TV to the big screen.  Don’t mess with the formula, just turn the volume up that one extra notch

With the indomitable voice talents like H Jon Benjamin leading the way, there is no doubt that the Belcher family is ready for some larger adventures on the big screen.  Everyone involved with the material walks a very careful line in making this material land somewhere between emotionally resonant with character we can get behind and gonzo absurdist nonsense.

That’s the magic of this show and subsequently this movie.  The Bob’s Burgers Movie isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but its giving us characters were invested in and stories we can get behind.   It’s a really REALLY good movie, but if they can find a way to add a little bit of an edge to it and ramp up the stakes, then they just might end up with some truly great.