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by Emily Nagle

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is fresh off the grill and playing at theaters around the United States. Based on Fox’s animated series that premiered in early 2011, this musical comedy follows the Belcher family’s fight to save their burger joint after a giant sinkhole opens right outside the door of the restaurant, and they have to pay off a loan in one week. Meanwhile, the kids end up uncovering a murder mystery.

I’ve been watching “Bob’s Burgers” since it first aired on television more than 10 years ago, and it has a special place in my heart. Having grown up watching it, “Bob’s Burgers” always stood out to me against the sea of adult animated shows, deriving comedy from witty dialogue and thought-out character development, rather than shock value. Instead of being this crazy, over-the-top show, it’s just the story of an ordinary family running a humble burger restaurant in a seaside town. We’re dragged along for the misadventures of Bob (H. Jon Benjamin), Linda (John Roberts), and their kids: socially awkward Tina (Dan Mintz), enthusiastic Gene (Eugene Mirman), and mischievous Louise (Kristen Schaal).

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie” kicks off strong, and you’ll fall in love within the first 5 minutes! Summer is just around the corner, and the Belchers express their hopes and dreams for the season in the catchy, upbeat musical number “Sunny Side Up Summer”. The polished animation style was the first aspect to rope me in. It’s hard to believe the whole film is animated in 2D, because the animation has so much depth! It’s clear the animators took time to make it feel like you’re right there with the Belchers on Ocean Avenue. The little things are what left a lasting impression on me, like a shots where it panned through the wall of Linda and Bob’s bedroom into the hallway of their apartment, where Louise has been overhearing their conversation. There’s shots like that in the show, but in the movie they’re so smooth to the point where they feel 3D.

Another one of the film’s strong points is its soundtrack. “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is a musical comedy, and features several original songs to progress the film’s plot. My only complaint was that I wish there were more songs! “Sunny Side Up Summer” is the first song, and arguably the best one because it introduces the whole family, with each character having their own verse that fits their personality. In fact, I think I’ll go so far to say that if there’s someone in the theater who has never watched “Bob’s Burgers”, then this song adequately sets the stage, establishing all the characters’ unique personalities.

This film’s plot has a particular focus on Louise. Anyone who’s seen “Bob’s Burgers” knows this precocious nine-year-old can be manipulative and aggressive towards others, exploiting people to her advantage. In the movie, Louise’s primary motivation for solving the mystery is to prove herself to her peers after they call her a baby for not wanting to lose her signature bunny hat on the playground. Toward the end, we receive an emotional backstory behind why she’s never been seen without her hat in the show’s entire 11-year history: Linda made the hat for Louise after she bravely completed her first day of preschool, and it reminds Bob of his mother, who frequently sported a knitted pink hat.

Watching this fearless little girl grapple with insecurity adds a layer of humanity, and makes her more relatable to viewers like myself. Who doesn’t remember being a kid, and feeling tempted to feed into peer pressure just so they can fit in?

I wouldn’t say you have to be super familiar with “Bob’s Burgers” to enjoy this movie. It’s a fun musical murder mystery, and a love letter to traditional animation. “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” has the clever humor of the series, and boasts stunning visuals and catchy songs. This summer blockbuster is sure to satisfy audiences across the world!

by Emily Nagle

For the first time in three decades, Disney’s iconic crime-fighting chipmunks are back! Disney+ exclusive film “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” picks up on Chip and Dale years after the cancellation of their television show, when the duo has parted ways after a falling-out. But when an old costar goes missing, it’s up to Chip and Dale to reunite and uncover the mystery behind his disappearance.

When I first heard Disney was making a revival of the “Rescue Rangers” cartoon, the first question that came to my mind was who the target audience would be. Considering the cartoon aired over thirty years ago, I wasn’t sure if the film would be targeted at the adults who grew up watching the show, or if it would be for children, which reboots sometimes do to refresh their franchise and introduce it to a new generation.

The plot of “Rescue Rangers” turns out to be one that is sure to appeal to both kids and adults. Set in a world cohabited by humans and cartoon characters, we learn the origin story of how Chip and Dale became so inseparable. As soon as they meet in elementary school, they become best friends and grow up to star in the popular “Rescue Rangers” series. When Dale accepts an offer to get his own show, him and Chip have a falling-out, leading to the cancellation of both shows.

In the present day, the duo has gone drastically different directions in life: Chip (John Mulaney) has moved on from his Hollywood era, having settled down in the suburbs as an insurance salesman, while fun-loving, adventurous Dale (Andy Samberg) continues to live in the glory days, making a living tabling at fan conventions (he also appears photorealistic, having had “CGI surgery”). Both of them get contacted by their old costar Monterey Jack (Eric Bana), who warns of a toon trafficking operation where characters get kidnapped, have their appearance altered, and get shipped overseas to film bootleg versions of their properties. Later that night, Monty gets kidnapped, and Chip and Dale begin an investigation.

The idea of a toon trafficking operation is a clever storyline; this movie could’ve gone the murder mystery route like lots of other films, but instead it puts a creative spin on the crime genre. Not to mention, this situation is a comical explanation for the abundance of laughably bad animated knock-offs on the market (especially those based on Disney films). It reminds me a bit of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but with a unique Disney spin.

“Rescue Rangers” is filled with lots of little riffs on animation, and the best part is all those jokes are turned into important parts of the story! For example, one of the first places Chip and Dale’s investigation leads them to is a sketchy area of town called the Uncanny Valley, which – you guessed it – is populated by shady characters who look freakishly human, but not. The leader of this gang of criminals is a middle-aged, washed-up Peter Pan, who now goes by Sweet Pete (fittingly played by Bojack Horseman’s voice actor, Will Arnett). There’s also his partner in crime Jimmy (Da’Vone McDonald), a CGI polar bear who looks a lot like one of the Coca-Cola bears.

“Rescue Rangers” has that layer of self-awareness. For that reason, it stands out from other reboots. You can tell the writing team had a blast coming up with this story. It’s a tribute to the animation medium, and features cameos of cartoon characters from various properties (some of which don’t belong to Disney), serving as fun Easter eggs for viewers: notable guests include McGruff the Crime Dog, Doc McStuffins, a live-action Pumbaa, and my personal favorite, Randy Marsh from South Park. A favorite cameo among viewers was “Ugly Sonic” – poking fun at the controversial original design for the speedy blue protagonist in the first “Sonic the Hedgehog” film – who is seen tabling at a convention with Dale at the beginning of the film, and later helps the FBI arrest Sweet Pete and his gang of criminals.

I recommend “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” to anyone who grew up watching the show back in the 80s, or animation fans. You don’t need to have seen the original “Rescue Rangers” show in order to appreciate this film; personally, I never watched the show, but I ended up loving this movie for how witty and fun it is.

by Emily Nagle

Top 5 Highest Grossing Films for Weekend of June 3-5, 2022
5. Downton Abbey: A New Era ($3.2 million)
4. The Bad Guys ($3.3 million)
3. The Bob’s Burgers Movie ($4.6 million)
2. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($9.2 million)
1. Top Gun: Maverick ($90 million)

Thanks to “Top Gun: Maverick”, the first box office weekend of this month took off. This long-awaited sequel to the 1986 action film racked up $90 million in its second weekend of release, more than all of other films in the top 5 combined. In fact, “Maverick” has performed better financially than its predecessor, earning $557.2 million worldwide. It’s also been better received by audience, receiving a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised this sequel for its soundtrack, cast, action sequences, and story. This Memorial Day blockbuster follows Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) 36 years after the events of the original film, as he returns to the prestigious United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program as an instructor, and trains a new generation of fighter pilots.

The same weekend that “Top Gun: Maverick” premiered, “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” rolled out to theaters. Based on the Fox animated series created by Loren Bouchard, this musical comedy follows the Belchers as they try to keep their burger restaurant afloat after a sinkhole opens up right outside their front door. I’m actually going to the theater tonight to see this movie, so stay tuned for a full review, along with other articles about this film!

In terms of new releases, this weekend did not see the premiere of any widely released films. However, next weekend will be more eventful at theaters across the country, as “Jurassic World: Dominion” premieres. Will this popular sci-fi franchise break box office records? Only time will tell.

by Emily Nagle

British teen drama Heartstopper debuted on Netflix at the end of April, and immediately blew up, becoming one of the top British series on Netflix in less than a week. Since its premiere, this charming LGBTQ+ series has been a social media sensation. The hashtag #heartstopper currently has 5.4 billion views on TikTok, filled with videos from the cast members and fans. LGBTQ+ couples have even used audio from the show to tell their own love stories (like this one).

Based on the eponymous webcomic and graphic novel by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper tells the story of English high school student Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), who falls for popular rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). Having been outed before the events of the series, Charlie has been bullied by his classmates to the point where he hides in the art room during lunch. As a result, when things heat up between the two boys, Nick struggles to come to terms with his own sexuality out of fear of getting ostracized by his teammates, who gang up on Charlie, much to Nick’s disapproval.

The story is sweet and heartwarming, and as the credits start rolling at the end of the episode and the “Next Episode” button starts filling up, you won’t want to pick up the remote! Each episode shows the progression of Charlie and Nick’s relationship, but it’s not just about them; viewers also get to know Charlie’s friends Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney). Tao is overprotective of Charlie, and skeptical of Nick’s feelings for him due to much of the rugby team being homophobic. Meanwhile, Elle has recently transferred to an all-girls school after coming out as transgender, and makes new friends while realizing that her friendship with Tao might be something more.

Heartstopper is a visual treat, with stunning production design. In addition to the animated bits, the lighting is super colorful and great at showing emotion. The actual comic is in black and white, so the creative team had to figure out how they would use colors to convey emotions in a way that’s fun and youthful, but not overwhelming. In terms of lighting design, my favorite scenes in the show took place at a classmate’s birthday party and the bowling alley. The most notable example of symbolic lighting in Heartstopper is the bisexual lighting during much of the scenes with Nick and Charlie, foreshadowing Nick realizing his sexuality. Even though it’s set in the modern day, the colorful lighting in these scenes gives off retro vibes, and is really pretty to look at. At the same time, it does more than just look nice; it contributes to character development in a subtle way, going beyond dialogue and plot.

The way Heartstopper incorporates comic-esque cinematography and cartoonish effects reminds me of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, except without the superhero energy. During particularly intimate moments between the teens, traditionally animated doodles show chemistry. The most recognized animated effect in the show is pastel leaves dancing across the screen (if you search up “Heartstopper” on Google, then they’ll twirl across the search results!). In an interview with IBC, cinematographer Diana Olifirova explained the challenge of conveying emotions like this onscreen using things like camera angles and lighting (which I couldn’t even tell was a challenge, because she absolutely nailed it). The quirky visuals are a unique, cute way to show the progression of Nick and Charlie’s relationship. If the creative decisions they made on set are an ice cream sundae, then the little animations added in after filming are the rainbow sprinkles. Not only do they set Heartstopper apart from other shows, but it reminds you that these are just kids who are figuring themselves out. It makes me think of a lovesick teen rushing home from school to gush about their love interest in their diary, or doodling their crush’s name absentmindedly in their notebook during class.

Despite the visuals being colorful and reminiscent of a graphic novel, it’s such a human story. Olifirova also revealed to IBC that much of the shots were filmed handheld, like a documentary, to feel more authentic and show more of the story than just the actors. This technique is used particularly in the more tender moments between the characters. A scene that comes to mind is in the third episode, titled “Kiss”: while at their classmate’s birthday party, Nick and Charlie run off from the rest of their peers and kiss for the first time. The whole exchange leading up to the kiss is slow and natural, with Charlie asking Nick if he’d ever date or kiss someone who wasn’t a girl, and then if he would ever kiss him. You can feel the emotions radiating off of the boys; after so long, Charlie finally has the guts to pop the question to Nick, who has finally come to terms with his feelings for him.

Each episode of Heartstopper is around 30 minutes long, and there’s only 8 episodes, making this show the perfect binge-watch. That’s what I did recently, when I was sick with an ear infection for a few days and just wanted to nap on the couch and watch TV. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to start it now, while there’s not that many episodes out, because only a month after its release, Heartstopper got renewed for a second and third season!

I recommend Heartstopper to anyone looking for a short, sweet love story, or if you want to watch something with realistic representation of LGBTQ+ youths. Unlike other trending teen shows like “Euphoria”, this show doesn’t rely on shock value. Heartstopper isn’t about kids experimenting with drugs or partying. Instead, it’s a wholesome story of boy meets boy, and a tale about friendship and growing up. A show about teens just having fun and acting their age is hard to come by these days, and it’s this quality that makes Heartstopper hit home for so many people. This heartwarming series is the perfect binge for Pride Month!

by Emily Nagle

Happy Pride Month! With a new month comes a whole new slew of content, and to ring in the celebration of all things LGBTQ+, here’s some shows and movies you can watch now on some of the most popular streaming platforms!

Netflix subscribers can take a bite out of lesbian vampire drama “First Kill” on June 10. Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) is a teenage vampire on the hunt for her first blood, and settles on Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis), the new girl in town. She discovers Calliope descends from a long line of successful vampire slayers. The girls soon fall head over heels for each other…even though they each want the other one dead.

Gleeks, grab your slushies – Fox’s critically acclaimed series is finally back on streaming! After leaving Netflix last fall, all six seasons of “Glee” are now available to watch on Disney+ and Hulu. Having aired from 2009 to 2015, the show prominently featured LGBTQ+ characters, having broken major ground by being one of the first shows to do this. Most notably, one of season one’s story arcs explores Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) as he struggles with coming out as gay to his father and peers.

Disney+ and Hulu subscribers can also anticipate a vacation to “Fire Island”; premiering on June 3, this rom-com puts a queer spin on “Pride and Prejudice”, following a group of gay friends Noah and Howie (Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang) as they spend a sunshine-filled, rosé-fueled week on the south shore of Long Island.

Canadian drama series “Two Brothers” will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video and Canadian LGBTQ+ channel OUTtv on June 10. The show will follow The show follows Aaron and Aiden as they struggle to fit in their small Canadian town, due to being minorities, and also due to Aaron being gay. Arriving on Prime Video a week later is “My Fake Boyfriend”: this movie follows Andrew (Keiynan Lonsdale), who gets dumped by his on-again, off-again boyfriend. To help him move on, his two best friends (Dylan Sprouse and Sarah Hyland) create a fake boyfriend on social media, dubbing him “Cristiano”. But when Cristiano becomes an Internet icon and Andrew meets the real guy of his dreams, the trio must figure out how to make things right.

by Emily Nagle

Yesterday, the California-based digital advertising platform GumGum announced a partnership with Invincible Entertainment. This development is sure to revolutionize the streaming ad experience, creating in-video product advertisements that will be used in Invincible’s massive CTV (connected TV) catalog.

This new ad experience will be used particularly for Invincible’s flagship streamer Galxy TV. Unlike traditional advertisements, GumGum’s SSAI (server-side ad insertion) software allows viewers to watch their shows and movies uninterrupted, as the ad appears in a corner of the screen.

“GumGum is thrilled to work alongside Invincible to improve their users’ viewing experience without sacrificing monetization by reducing the amount of traditional ad breaks—rather we replace them with overlay ads,” Ken Weiner, Chief Technology Officer at GumGum, announced in a press statement. “Our tech contextually analyzes scheduled ad avails and our ad server then chooses suitable advertisements for the user at that moment in time to be placed across Invincible’s genre-spanning CTV content.”

When one considers the risks of interruptive ads during live-streamed broadcasts, it only makes sense that overlay advertisements are set to make strides in streaming customers’ viewing experience. Mid-video ads run the risk of interrupting crucial moments during a program, whether it’s a sentence or a goal in a sports match. Ads that don’t interrupt a broadcast, however, avoid this while also maximizing brand compatibility in real-time.

“Our new integration with GumGum has the potential to transform how advertisers reach audiences in streaming environments. GumGum’s lower third ads have been so successful that we have been using them exclusively on our ad supported VOD titles resulting in a marked decrease in drop offs during ad breaks and a vastly improved viewing experience for our users,” Thomas Ashley, CEO at Invincible Entertainment, explains. “Streamers now have the opportunity to build revenue around valuable inventory in AVOD CTV in a robust and meaningful way, and this partnership makes it possible to deliver free ad supported programming to our users uninterrupted. CTV monetization can be rapidly, contextually, and creatively scaled and the user experience is second to none. It’s a win-win.”