Good Burger (1997) * * 1/2

 

Directed by:  Brian Robbins

Starring:  Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, Dan Schneider, Abe Vigoda, Shar Jackson, Sinbad, Carmen Electra, Jan Schweiterman, Linda Cardellini

Good Burger is based on a late 90's Nickelodeon sketch and blown up to feature length.  I wouldn't say I was the intended audience even back in 1997, but my son loved it.  It's equal shares of slapstick and a showcase for Kel Mitchell, who was half of the Kenan and Kel Show then.  Kenan Thompson went on to become the longest-tenured Saturday Night Live performer in the show's history.  Mitchell faded into obscurity (as far as I know).  But Good Burger gives us Ed, a likable dimwit who takes most things said to him literally.   When a character asks Ed, "How does ten dollars sound?", Ed crinkles a ten-dollar bill up to his ear.  

Ed works tirelessly at Good Burger, a mainstay which is soon about to run out of business by Mondo Burger across the street.  Mondo burgers are three times the size of any normal burger, and with all of the additives pumped into the beef, no wonder.  Mondo Burger is run by the hard-ass jerk Kurt (Schweiterman), who will stoop to any level to ensure Good Burger goes out of business.  Ed, however, creates a special sauce and people love it.  Good Burger finds itself back on the map.  The manager Mr. Baily (Schneider) couldn't be happier.  Kurt makes it his business to find out the sauce's recipe and even hires sexy Roxanne (Electra) to go on a date with the clueless Ed to love the recipe right out of him.

Ed's co-worker and friend is Dexter (Thompson), who is forced to get a summer job after he is involved in an accident and has to pay for the damage.  He doesn't care for Ed much, but soon befriends him, and then tries to bilk Ed out of part of his bonus for each burger sold.  This doesn't endear Dexter to Monique (Jackson), the Good Burger staffer who cares for Ed and is Dexter's romantic interest.  But Ed and Dexter soon become the heroes who save Good Burger from the sinister Kurt and his minions.  

Good Burger is occasionally funny and is aimed at a younger audience that would appreciate it more.  Ed is a unique character and carries most of the movie with his witless charm.  He seems to have been beamed here from another planet, but he nearly carries the movie by himself.