Good Burger . Austin Chronicle . 11-09-98

Good Burger

DIRECTED BY: Brian Robbins

REVIEWED: 11-09-98

The best kids' comedies are always the ones that have a little something for the grown-ups. Fortunately, Good Burger rises above any expectations one might have about a Nickelodeon film and manages to be cleverly outlandish if not thoroughly entertaining. Based on a sketch from Nickelodeon's All That, the story revolves around Dexter (Thompson), a precocious high schooler who, on the last day of school, has a major fender-bender with Seventies-lovin' teacher Mr. Wheat (played with campy panache by Sinbad). With no license and no insurance, Dexter reluctantly takes a summer job to pay for all the car repairs. He winds up at a fast food joint, Good Burger, where he meets an assortment of other misfits. The weirdest of the bunch is Ed, a dude (who incidentally, says the word "dude" all too frequently) with few brains yet a devout loyalty to his job at the counter of Good Burger. While Ed and Dexter share a few Martin and Lewis type moments, the ultra-corporate Mondo Burger has just opened next door and is determined to bury its competition. From here, it's war as the little guys stand up to the bad boys of Mondo Burger in a clichéd conflict we've seen in numerous other movies. But as inane and predictable as things get, the film works for both children and grown-ups. Directed by Brian Robbins (ex-star of TV's Head of the Class), the movie rolls along in a slapstick, cartoonish, and coherent fashion. Particularly effective is the straight man/buffoon chemistry between Thompson and Mitchell as well as the supporting cast of familiar yet disparate faces (Electra, Abe Vigoda, George Clinton). Snobby skeptics may have dismissed this as fodder when it hit the theatres a year ago, and may do the same in the video stores. Nonetheless, Good Burger still remains a pleasant surprise for all ages and a mindless treat with a sense of heart.

--Mike Emery

Full Length Reviews
Good Burger
Good Burger
Good Burger

Other Films by Brian Robbins
Varsity Blues

Film Vault Suggested Links
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
The Brady Bunch Movie
Trial & Error

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.