The Best and Worst of Keenan Thompson

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Wonder Park” star Keenan Thompson.

Films starring Keenan Thompson that I've seen:
D2: The Mighty Ducks
Heavyweights
D3: The Mighty Ducks
Good Burger
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
Big Fat Liar
The Master of Disguise
My Boss's Daughter
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Snakes on a Plane
The Smurfs
They Came Together
Going in Style 
The Grinch

Best Performance: Good Burger (1997)
There was plenty of indication that Thompson was going to be a successful comedic performer when he was just starting out in the industry, but Good Burger served as the finest early display of his talent. In this big screen portrayal of Dexter Reed-his most popular character from his time on All That, Thompson displays infectious energy, slick timing and strong commitment to selling absurd material that has carried over to his current longtime gig on Saturday Night Live.

Worst Performance: N/A
This is an instance where being a television sketch comedy veteran that only dabbles with Hollywood acting really benefits Thompson. While he's appeared in plenty of duds (The Master of Disguise, My Boss's Daughter, every animated movie listed above not named The Grinch), all of those roles were either extended cameos or voice parts that can't really be regarded as awful. He's fared pretty well in the handful of instances (Barbershop 2, Snakes on a Plane, every 90's movie listed above) where he's had a notable amount of screen time in a movie and given that sample size of significant live action roles, I can't really single out a performance from the bunch that was truly underwhelming.

Best Film: Good Burger (1997)
Good Burger is right below Space Jam and Jingle All the Way on my list of childhood classics that likely wouldn't appeal to anyone outside of my general age range (mid-20's to early-30's). This dumb little gem of a movie is an A++ example of why Keenan and Kel were the kings of children's absurdist comedy in the 90's. 

Worst Film: The Master of Disguise (2002)
Speaking of my childhood, I have often said that some of the worst movies I've ever seen were things I hated as a kid. The Master of Disguise is one of the frontrunners in that camp. Even 10-year old me couldn't find any joy in the endless stream of bad jokes and disguises Dana Carvey threw together for this obnoxious, staggeringly unfunny comedy.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Dragged Across Concrete” star Vince Vaughn.