Review: Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero “Brainzburgerz / Chuckle City”

Spoilers Below

 “Brainzburgerz

The gang get zapped into what initially looks like an unassuming world where Penn, Boone, and Sashi are mall employees working minimum wage jobs. We soon learn that Penn and Boone are working for a burger joint named ‘Brainzburgerz’ and that the restaurant has been serving burgers that turn customers into zombies. Eventually, everyone turns into zombies including ‘Brainzburgerz’ owners Larry and Rippen, leaving Penn all by himself to go to an island refuge where the last Army holds down fort. He’s able to bring with him the antidote that when mixed with French fries, turns zombies back into humans. Or Boone back into Boone.

What I kinda liked about this one is that it almost seemed like we were getting a full episode without Larry and Rip. It’s not to say I don’t enjoy those characters, it’s just that I wonder if this show could do a full one without them or ONLY with them. In any case, zombie cartoons are always fun, and Penn Zero offered up a nice spin on it. I tell myself that cheeseburgers being used as means of which to hypnotize has no other euphemism attached to it other than the fact that it’s funny. Christ knows, I don’t need vegan writers trying to plant seeds like that, that’s for sure.

 

 Chuckle City”

The kids head to a clown city and Boone is the Chief of Police. Having a position of that stature means he gets a very important task in holding a key that activates a weapon of epic proportion…a whoopee cushion! Rip kidnaps him and ascertains the key, but Penn shows up for a fight…alone. Turns out, Sashi knows nothing about being funny and has trouble adapting to her surroundings. Thankfully, we’ve got clown schools, and after a quick class is able to jump into action and help Penn save the day before any REAL damage happens.

What I really loved about this episode, was the amount of thought that went into the ‘world’ of ”Chuckle City”. All of the rules, all of the backgrounds, and ideas…it was all a lot to take in. I love clowns , so a clown episode does me good, and the idea that Sashi had to break her mold and become comical was a lot of fun. I would have like a bit more variety in the character designs due to the fact that clowns have a rich history with a stellar array of archetypes, but overall I had more than a few chuckles.