• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
This is a scene from the movie "The Bob's Burgers Movie." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (CNS screen grab/20th Century via EPK TV)

MOVIE REVIEW: The Bob’s Burgers Movie

May 26, 2022
By John Mulderig
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

NEW YORK (CNS) — In adapting a long-running Fox TV show for the big screen, directors Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman mix wry observations and quirky personalities with a few jaunty songs to give us “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” (20th Century).

The result is a frequently amusing animated comedy. But the nature of some of the humor, as well as the persistent restrained swearing in the script Bouchard co-wrote with Nora Smith, makes the film most appropriate for older teens and their seniors.

H. Jon Benjamin voices the often-pessimistic owner of the titular restaurant. And, in fact, as the plot kicks off, there’s quite a bit about which he and his close-knit family — upbeat wife Linda (voice of John Roberts) and kids Tina (voice of Dan Mintz), Gene (voice of Eugene Mirman) and Louise (voice of Kristen Schaal) — need to be concerned.

With the payment on a bank loan looming, a sinkhole abruptly opens up in front of the clan’s eatery, threatening its future. As Linda and Bob try to adapt to the situation, the youngsters set out to solve the murder of a skeleton found in the suddenly formed pit. Their goal is to clear their wealthy landlord, Calvin Fischoeder (voice of Kevin Kline), who stands accused of the crime, and thus gain his financial help.

The story showcases Bob and Linda’s strong marriage. With contrasting personalities, they complement each other well and offer mutual emotional support.

The screenplay also charts young Louise’s efforts to prove her grit. Partly based on her eccentric habit of perpetually sporting a pink hat made in the shape of bunny ears, she’s labeled a “baby” by some of her peers, a slur she resents and sets out to refute though acts of kid-sized derring-do.

With the school term coming to an end, meanwhile, Tina seeks to turn classmate Jimmy Jr. (also voiced by Benjamin) into her “summer boyfriend” — but keeps putting off the moment for approaching him with the idea. While not exactly racy, her romantic thoughts about him do sometimes focus on the seat of his pants.

As for free-spirited son Gene, he aspires to be a rock star and invents an off-beat “instrument” composed of a napkin holder and a couple of plastic spoons. The fact that the sound this invention makes jars on more nerves than it soothes deters him not a whit.

Perhaps in the hope of keeping things comparatively family-friendly, Bouchard and Smith consistently avoid rough or crude language. Yet, along with the odd, slightly coarse, expression, they include a surfeit of vague profanity in the dialogue, which does serve to constrain recommendation for younger moviegoers.

Grown viewers and those adolescents whose parents are inclined to overlook the barrage of OMG’s the screenwriters unleash will find the world of “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” enjoyably pixilated. Better yet, it’s an environment within which strong familial ties and bonds of loyalty prevail, even in times of crisis.

The film contains pervasive mildly profane language, occasional scatological and anatomical humor and several crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.


Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service.

Read More Movie & TV Reviews

A new documentary, ‘The Inner Sea,’ tells a story of adoption, music and love

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Another Simple Favor’

Movie Review: The Legend of Ochi

Conclaves on screen

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Who are the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV’s order?

  • New interim Hispanic, Urban delegates ready to serve Archdiocese of Baltimore

  • Catholic school academic honorees return to lead alma maters at Bishop Walsh, Archbishop Curley

  • Father Patrick Carrion offers blessing before Preakness

  • New pope’s Black, Creole roots illuminate rich multiracial history of U.S.

| CURRENT EDITION |

| Remembering Pope Francis |

U.S. pilgrims to Havana recall Francis’ impact in Cuba 10 years after visit

Radio Interview: Meet the Mount St. Mary’s graduate who served as a lector at papal funeral

Georgetown’s final ‘Francis Factor’ panel remembers late pope’s legacy

Francis’ final gift to Gaza: Popemobile will be transformed into mobile clinic for children

Final preparations, discussions underway before conclave begins

| Vatican News |

Pope holds private meeting with Ukrainian president

Pope’s inauguration Mass is sign of unity for whole church, Archbishop Lori says

Pope Leo XIV’s election gives new hope to Dolton, Ill., and church that formed him

Pope Leo begins papacy calling for ‘united church’ in a wounded world

Pope Leo XIV and the abuse crisis: What happens next?

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

A new documentary, ‘The Inner Sea,’ tells a story of adoption, music and love

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Another Simple Favor’

Movie Review: The Legend of Ochi

Conclaves on screen

| En español |

El Papa León comienza su pontificado pidiendo una ‘Iglesia unida’ en un mundo herido

El deseo del obispo Bruce Lewandowski, “Cuiden bien a los jóvenes.”

El cardenal Prevost, misionero de EEUU, es elegido Papa y toma el nombre de León XIV

Invocando al Espíritu Santo y la intercesión de todos los santos, los cardenales inician el cónclave

Rev. Cristóbal Fones, SJ: “Los jóvenes tienen un mensaje y un bien que dar a la sociedad”

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope holds private meeting with Ukrainian president
  • Pope’s inauguration Mass is sign of unity for whole church, Archbishop Lori says
  • El Papa León comienza su pontificado pidiendo una ‘Iglesia unida’ en un mundo herido
  • Pope Leo XIV’s election gives new hope to Dolton, Ill., and church that formed him
  • Pope Leo begins papacy calling for ‘united church’ in a wounded world
  • Pope Leo XIV and the abuse crisis: What happens next?
  • Pilgrimage launch coincides with papal inauguration, marks young Catholic’s ‘radical yes’
  • Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue
  • U.S. pilgrims to Havana recall Francis’ impact in Cuba 10 years after visit

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED