The Emmy-winning animated series "Bob's Burgers" is making the hop to the big screen. The show's main characters come along for the ride - the perpetually worried fry cook, Bob Belcher, his preternaturally cheerful wife, Linda, and their three oddball kids.

"The Bob's Burgers Movie" captures the show's distinct look and feel, but it also introduces a new sense of urgency. The Belchers need to pay off the bank right away or lose their restaurant. There's also a murder mystery, which may involve their quirky landlord. I'm Aisha Harris.

WELDON: And I'm Glen Weldon. And today we're talking about "The Bob's Burgers Movie" on POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR from NPR.

WELDON: Joining me and Aisha today is a name you've heard before if you've stayed until the credits. But today she's making her POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR debut. It's our very own producer, Candice Lim. Hey, Candice.

CANDICE LIM, BYLINE: Hello, Glen.

WELDON: Welcome, welcome, welcome. So let's get started. As "The Bob's Burgers Movie" opens, it's nearly summer in the unnamed beach town where the show takes place. Bob and Linda, voiced by H. Jon Benjamin and John Roberts, have only a week to repay a bank loan or lose their beloved beachside burger joint forever. Meanwhile, oldest child Tina, voiced by Dan Mintz, is having her usual hormonal daydreams; middle child Gene, voiced by Eugene Mirman, is dreaming of musical superstardom; and youngest child Louise, voiced by Kristen Schaal, is determined to prove herself brave and independent.

When a sinkhole opens up right in front of the restaurant's front door, all hope seems lost to save Bob's Burgers, especially when a skeleton turns up that has the three Belcher kids acting as amateur sleuths. The case would seem to implicate the town's richest and most insufferable siblings, Calvin and Felix Fischoeder, voiced by Kevin Kline and Zach Galifianakis.

There's lots of guest stars, lots of puns and lots of very goofy songs. In other words, it's "Bob's Burgers" business as usual, just a whole lot bigger than your TV screen. The movie was co-written and co-directed by series creator, Loren Bouchard. His co-writer was Nora Smith. His co-director was Bernard Derriman.

Aisha, what did you make of "The Bob's Burgers Movie?"

HARRIS: You know, what a delightful, fun time at the movies. I'm a big fan of the show. I am all caught up on this last season that just recently concluded. And I got to say, I just had a fun time.

Now, is there, you know, some backstory here that we get into that I'm not necessarily sure we needed or wanted to know? I'm talking here about the origin story of Louise's hat - her infamous hat. So I didn't need, necessarily, an origin story in order for me to care more about this character. But I will say, without spoiling anything, at the end of the film - as we kind of learn a little bit more about the meaning of this - it takes a very moving, emotional turn that I wasn't quite expecting, even though the show can definitely get very moving and thoughtful. I wasn't crying, but I was definitely like, oh, this is a really sweet, little twist here.

So I think the movie does a good job of taking all of the elements of the show that we like - the quirky characters, Tina's obsession with butts, the fun songs - although, I could have had more fun songs, to be honest. I - it felt a little light on the songs. I thought, you know, longer time to hang with these characters and we'd have more songs - could've used more. But the songs that we do have are fun. There's a fun song with carnival people who live in this carnival community.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUCKY DUCKS")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character, singing) Some lucky ducks get all the luck. Some break their backs to make a buck. And sure, we are a bunch of shady criminal-ish (ph) gents and ladies.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTORS: (As characters, singing) But we did our time.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character) Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTORS: (As characters, singing) We paid for our crimes.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #3: (As character) Well, most of us.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #4: (As character, singing) And our misdemeanors.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #5: (As character, singing) Now we sell fried dough and wieners.

HARRIS: And the choreography, I have to say, is very fun in this movie. They do this weird jig that's almost, like, "Peanuts-y" (ph).

HARRIS: So I very much enjoyed it. I think that - you know, would I tell people to go out and see this movie as cases are surging and people are concerned? I don't know. I'm not sure. But if you are less concerned or if you just want to go out and enjoy this on a big screen, I'd say go for it. And, you know, just take the precautions that you feel comfortable taking.

WELDON: What about you, Candice? What'd you think?

LIM: I'm like Aisha. I liked it, too. It's interesting because I was actually quite skeptical going in because this movie is over 90 minutes. So that's like watching more than four episodes back to back. And I was very worried I was going to get fatigued and straight up fall asleep. But I was engaged. I got all of the references and callbacks. You know, they brought back Jericho, and I'm really shocked that Paul Rudd came back to voice that. He books. And then they bring back Itty Bitty Ditty Committee, which is also really cute.

And so I laughed out loud a few times and, you know, it was fun. It made me happy. I think other fans will also love it, and I do think this is kind of the perfect summer movie because the show just ended its 12th season. There's going to be this hole that it leaves because of the hiatus. And this is kind of the perfect thing to fill that sinkhole. So, yeah.

WELDON: Fill the sinkhole. Yeah. You know, I'm on board. I mean, you're right. It's just as good as the show. I love the show. And by transitive property, I love this.

Visually, though, let's talk about this. It is doing that thing that "The Simpsons Movie" did, which is put this drop shadow on everyone, on every figure, just allowing it on one side of them to, I guess, impart some kind of sense of extra roundedness. You know, this is worth your ticket price. There is now a discernable light source on "Bob's Burgers."

But for me, that kind of took away a little bit from what makes the show the show. The show works because the visuals are so broad and flat and primary-colored and cartoony, and the vocal performances tend to be a lot more dry and deadpan. And that's what kind of gives, like, these small bits of humanity. And that's how I think the show manages to be both a joke-driven show and a character-driven show at the same time, which is very rare.

I live for the things that Bob mutters under his breath. They're not jokes. They're just reactions. He's just reacting to what's going on. I love the way Linda will say something and then laugh at her own joke - ha. I love the way Tina thinks she can always get away with saying something really weird and horny and no one will notice, and, of course, everybody always notices. I love the way that Gene - and this is such a specific kid thing - the way that Gene always shouts these incredibly self-assured rejoinders to something that somebody just said to him, and he thinks in his mind that it makes sense, but of course it's just this crazy non-sequitur. And I love Louise's ability to manipulate everyone and everything around her without their knowing. And this is all captured on this show - it's just that the visuals were a little jarring to me.

Who are some of your favorite pairings, either on the show or in the movie? This is, of course, an ensemble show, but do you have a favorite relationship that you like to see?

LIM: Man, I got to say, first off, I was so upset Gail was not in this one.

HARRIS: Really? 'Cause I'm team not Gail...

LIM: (Gasps) You're team not Gail?

HARRIS: ...Like, I'm not a fan of Gail (laughter).

WELDON: For listeners who don't know, Gail is Linda's sister, voiced by the great Megan Mullally.

HARRIS: I love Megan Mullally, but Gail does not - she doesn't do it for me. Every time a Gail episode comes on, I'm like, oh, Gail (laughter).

LIM: Yeah. I mean, I'll say this - like, in terms of pairings that I love, I think it's got to be Linda and Gene for me 'cause they're so, so, like, Mother-Sonny in an "Arrested Development" way.

LIM: But there are episodes where they really go in on it, and it's really cute. I mean, in terms of this movie itself, I think all of them have, like, a really sweet arc. But I will say the flashback to Linda and Bob opening the restaurant made me tear up a little bit, even though it had this really rusty, like, 4 p.m. shadow on it.

LIM: And I was like, ah, we don't need to "John Wick" this, but OK.

HARRIS: I do love the pairing of Gene and Linda. And Gene is, like, the type of child that, if I was a parent, I don't know how I would deal with him all the time. He is so much all the time, and I really love that pairing. But I think I have to say I think I prefer - especially in this film, I kind of like how Louise and her siblings work together in this film to try and solve this mystery and also, you know, keep their parents from finding out everything that's going on. And I think, to me, their bonds - the way they all play off of each other - is really emphasized here, and the fact that, like, Louise is the youngest, but she is the ringleader, and they all just kind of, like, follow along. I really think this is a very - in a way, like, it feels like a true dynamic, and it feels real, and I really enjoyed seeing Louise kind of take the forefront.

Now, I still think, like, for me, my favorite character, period, just standalone, is Tina. And I loved her arc here, where she is - which actually sort of complements the last couple of episodes of this recent season, where she is sort of really confronting her feelings about Jimmy Jr., and her, like, very huge crush on him, and what it would mean if her dreams were no longer dreams and became, like, real life. And I really, really loved seeing that, and I can't wait to see where the show takes what happens in the movie from there.

WELDON: Yep. You both mentioned how emotional the show can get and how sweet the show can get. There is a sweetness to this family dynamic, especially in the movie, but it's never allowed to become syrupy or cloying because they're doing always so much work to make sure it's not generic, right? It's always very specific to these characters. Bob and Tina's relationship is so different than Bob and Louise's, for example. And I think there's something going on in the moments when Bob is alone with his kids versus the scenes where Linda is alone with her kids. I think Bob maybe sees them as individuals a little bit more clearly, whereas Linda has this blanket love for them all and her really wrongheaded belief that they're all perfect. So that means that they're getting not necessarily deeper, but a different kind of support from Bob - maybe a less effusive, but more tailored - maybe a more bespoke support from Bob, and something more effusive, but maybe less detail-oriented from Linda. And I think, because of that - because they're getting two different kinds - this is a fundamentally much healthier family than "The Simpsons" ever hopes to be - ever could be. Do you agree?

LIM: Yeah, I agree with you. I mean, I think, going back to the show, when I really look at the landscape of all of the, like, family sitcoms that are on networks in the past, like, 10 years or so - that's like your "Modern Families" (ph), "Black-ish," all those things - I always felt like "Bob's Burgers" was the one that I related to most. Now, I don't - my family does not own a burger restaurant, but I always loved how every kid, every parent - so quirky, so weird - they never, ever dig each other on it. They never make fun of each other. They're so yes, and-y (ph) and, like, tolerant and supportive. And I think on the point of Bob - like, that man is taking down toxic masculinity one burger at a time.

LIM: And I have to say, it's hard to be a dad to, like, such different kids.

LIM: That's why I love his backstory. Like, the episode with his dad I actually loved.

LIM: Any time we talk about his mom I love because it's so heartbreaking, and that is when I cried in the movie. But, yeah, he's - H. Jon Benjamin - doing good work, doing good work.

WELDON: Doing good work, yeah.

HARRIS: Yeah, absolutely. I also just really love how the show and also this movie - going back to Tina for a second - like, she is one of the horniest 13 - is she supposed to be 13 - 12, 13?

HARRIS: I don't - she's not 16 yet. That's clear. And seeing that depicted in the way she writes erotic fan fiction - and it's funny, it's silly, but it's treated seriously by everyone...

HARRIS: ...'Cause her parents know about it, her - like, her siblings know about it, and they all are just like, that's just Tina. And to see that embraced - and I love the sequence in the film early on where she is imagining being on horses, riding with Jimmy Jr. on a beach where the zombies, like, are following them. It took basically everything we know about Tina if you're familiar with this show, put them in this moment, and I was just like, oh, I love this. This is what this movie is doing. It is giving the fans what it wants.

Now, if you go into it having never watched the show or having not watched the show in years or, like, you've seen one or two episodes, it might not be for you, and that's fine. But this is clearly for the fans, and I think this is very much, like, fan service and fan service to me in the best way possible. And I'm not just saying that because I am a fan. Like, I feel like fans of this show are pretty wholesome and chill compared to other properties. So...

WELDON: That's certainly true. And I am one such fan. I don't know how chill I am, but I'm certainly - like, it's got its hooks into me. Like, Loren Bouchard was the creator of "Dr. Katz" back in the day and where he worked with H. Jon Benjamin. That's where I fell in love with the voice talents of one H. Jon Benjamin. And every year in the Weldon-Nunez household, we watch John Roberts's YouTube short "The Tree," which predates "Bob's Burgers" by a good amount, where he just does an impression of his Long Island mom obsessing over the Christmas tree. It's just Linda with different hair. I own and have used the "Bob's Burgers" cookbook. The Thanksgiving meal in the Weldon-Nunez household does not begin with a prayer. It begins with me going, (singing) pass the cranberry sauce. We're having mashed potatoes.

WELDON: (Singing) Gee, the turkey looks great. And I keep waiting for Faust to jump in with a Linds (ph), but he's always - he always misses his cue. I'm a fan, and I'm looking forward to going to see this again opening weekend with my mask on because it means that I will be in a space that I have never been in, which is sharing the experience with fellow fans, people who get it, like-minded people who are vibrating on this show's very specific wavelength. I can read about them online, but I haven't been in a room, in a space with them. And that's what I'm really looking forward to.

Now, I think we agree that this movie is certainly representative of the show. Is it a good intro to the show?

LIM: It's funny because I think whenever an animated movie hits box offices, there's a lot of marketing towards kids who will take their parents and force them to watch, like "Despicable Me."

LIM: I almost feel like this is the opposite, where it's a lot of parents forcing their teens or preteens to come watch it with them. And if that means a 45-year-old dad can, like, share a piece of comedy with their kids, I think that's great. And I actually do think you can probably watch this movie and enjoy it without all the references. There's a lot of, like, LOL moments that I had. But I do think that, like, getting to know those references is really, like, sweet and endearing. For example - I didn't know this - apparently in season 12, they've been teasing the sinkhole the whole time because in the background, you can see, like, pedestrians tripping over cracks in the sidewalk.

LIM: And I never, never caught that.

HARRIS: Never put that together. I've noticed the tripping maybe once but, like, I don't - wow. I love that little tidbit. Thank you, Candice.

WELDON: How about you, A? She's a good intro, do you think?

HARRIS: You know what? I think so. But I also feel like pretty much any episode of "Bob's Burgers" could be a good intro. Like, the thing about an animated show like this is that, yes, the characters have evolved a little bit and they've changed a little bit, but not that much. At least, you know, it's been a long time since I've gone back all the way to the beginning, so maybe my memory is fuzzy and they've done a total 180 and I just haven't noticed cause it's been incremental and over time, but I feel like the core of who these characters are have always been there, and it's just gotten - you know, they don't really do topical things. Like, they had an episode either this season or last season that was, like, sort of the COVID episode, but it was, like, an allegory for something else. So there's that but, like, they don't really get into topical stuff like that.

And so I feel as though you could go into this, and if you're just curious about "Bob's Burgers" and haven't watched an episode, I do think that despite what I said earlier about, like, it might not be for you if you haven't seen it, I do think if you're curious about it and you think you want to check it out, this is a good - as good of a primer as anything could be.

LIM: I firmly believe that Loren Bouchard is, like, about to become the Kevin Feige of, like, animated television.

LIM: And he has this huge world - right? - with, like, "Central Park" on Apple TV+. He's an EP on "The Great North" on Fox.

LIM: I actually would've loved for them to not do this movie, but to actually do a movie where they linked all three worlds and - because all three of them have, like, musical elements. Jenny Slate's in, like, a few of them. And I kind of think that would've been a lot more funny and a lot more interesting because then you would've seen all three audiences combined in one because I don't watch the other shows, but I watch "Bob's Burgers."

HARRIS: Some "Captain Planet-y" (ph) stuff going on there, I think.

WELDON: Yeah, absolutely, all together and the heart.

HARRIS: I could see them doing something quirky and combining all of them (laughter).

WELDON: All right, we want to know what you think about the "Bob's Burgers" movie. Find us at facebook.com/pchh and on Twitter @PCHH. That brings us to the end of our show. Aisha Harris, Candice Lim, thank you both for being here.

HARRIS: All right. Thank you.

WELDON: And of course, thank you for listening to POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR from NPR. If you got a second and you're so inclined, please sign up for our newsletter at npr.org/popculturenewsletter.

This episode was produced by Mike Katzif and Candice Lim before and behind the mic and edited by Jessica Reedy. Hello Come In provides the music you may or may not be bobbing your head to right now - choose your life. I'm Glen Weldon, and we'll see you all tomorrow, when we will be ranking the best contestants from "American Idol."

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