Good Burger 2 (2023) – Movie Review
Who is “Good Burger 2” for? Kenan and Kel are having too much flipping burgers to answer.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Good Burger 2” General Information
| Director | Phil Traill |
| Screenplay By | Kevin Kopelow and Heith Seifert |
| Based On | “Good Burger” by Dan Schneider, Kevin Kopelow, and Heith Seifert |
| Date Released (Paramount Plus) | November 22, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated TV-PG |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Ed | Kel Mitchell |
| Dexter | Kenan Thompson |
| Mia | Kamaia Fairburn |
| Ed 2 | Alex R. Hibbert |
“Good Burger 2” Film Summary
The first “Good Burger” was a silly, cheap movie showcasing some signature comedy voices, Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson, for teens in the ’90s. While the Nickelodeon product was juvenile, it was intentionally dumb and fun, and its humor could range from stoner absurdism to Black comedy. The original “Good Burger” is now a fun and comforting time capsule from the 90s. Yet like many ‘90s entertainment, the temptation to franchise and make sequels has now taken our beloved dudes in “Good Burger” too. So how does “Good Burger 2” hold up?
“Good Burger 2” copies the first movie’s trippy and memorable opening as Ed (Kel Mitchell) dreams about talking burgers. 25 years later, Ed still works at Good Burger, a fast food joint that seems to have horrible service but great burgers. But Ed now owns Good Burger and is truly happy at the only job he’s ever known. Meanwhile, Dexter (Kenan Thompson) is still searching for happiness and success as the founder and CEO of a company that’s trying to sell a non-burnable product. In a showcase for investors, Dexter uses the non-burnable product on his own house and attempts to demonstrate how his own house won’t catch fire. This does not work out. His house catches fire, and Dexter loses his house and his job and finds himself back at his old teen summer job at Good Burger.
Good Burger’s current employee lineup is filled with fun new faces, including Dexter’s niece Mia (Kamaia Fairburn) and Ed’s oldest son and clone of himself, Ed 2 (Alex R. Hibbert). Mia is reluctant to trust her uncle Dexter since he lost her family’s money in a bad business deal, and Dexter realizes he has very few people to depend on besides his old buddy Ed. But Dexter risks Ed’s friendship and the future of Good Burger when a greedy lawyer gets Dexter to convince Ed to sell the fast-food joint franchise Good Burger. Now it’s up to Dexter, Ed, and the rest of the Good Burger team to try to stop their beloved restaurant from becoming a bad, robotic global terror.
“Good Burger 2” has a plot that seems to flirt with satirizing franchise movies on its surface, but it never goes further than winking at the sequel now being a franchise itself. The cast, writing, and set design are all fun and game reminders of the cartoon energy made in 90s live-action family movies. But the nostalgia callbacks and cameos make “Good Burger 2” feel like a half-written sketch, and you’re left wondering: who is this movie for?
Content Rating Explanation
“Good Burger 2” is rated TV-PG due to cartoonish violence and mild profanity.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member.
Ed
Ed is the fun, free-spirited owner AND employee of Good Burger. Ed’s heart is always in the right place, but his naivety leads others to exploit him.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Good Burger.”
Dexter
Dexter is a smart entrepreneur who is usually looking out for himself. While Dexter is friends with Ed, his desperation for money comes at the sacrifice of his relationships with friends and family.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Saturday Night Live.”
Mia
Mia is Dexter’s niece, but she hasn’t talked to him since he lost her mom’s money in a bad business deal. Mia works at Good Burger and trusts Ed more than she does her uncle.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Holly Hobbie.”
Ed 2
Ed 2 is Ed’s son. He’s exactly like Ed.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Chi.”
Other Noteworthy Information
- The screenplay was written by Kevin Kopelow and Heith Seifert, two of the original writers of the first “Good Burger” movie.
Discussion Items
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
- Who do you think this movie is for? Would kids enjoy “Good Burger 2” or is it a piece of millennial nostalgia?
- How does “Good Burger 2” hold up against the first “Good Burger”?
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Notable Performances or Moments
Kel Mitchell as Ed
Ed’s raspy voice and endless buffoonery can be grating and, quite frankly, annoying. But Kel Mitchell throws so much heart and goodwill into the character that, like in the movies, Ed wins you over. 25 years later, Mitchell conjures his childlike wonder into Ed all over again and brings us all back to our childhood.
Highlights
The Chemistry and Playful Energy is Still Present
By incorporating the original writers and cast, there are special moments in “Good Burger 2” that are silly and sweet. One particular moment is with Ed and Dexter on the roof; Ed starts making silly noises, and Dexter joins in. The brief scene between the two feels like an improvised moment from Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson that demonstrates their playful chemistry is still intact.
The Bright, Wacky Set Design
“Good Burger 2” looks like walking into a ‘90s fast food joint. The big, bright, colorful, and plastic set is equally funny and impressive. Ed’s house is especially filled with surprises that may require you to pause the movie in order to appreciate all the wacky wonders made up of burgers and fries.
On The Fence
Nostalgic Tributes Grow Tiresome
If you were to take a drink every time someone said, “Welcome to Good Burger, Home of the Good Burger…” you would be dead. While it’s nice to see some of the “All That” cast return, the fabric of the movie relies so much on the original that it doesn’t stand as a movie by itself. “Good Burger 2” is at its best when it’s up to hijinks with the new cast, not referencing how much Kel loves orange soda (which is NOT something Ed loved).
Questionable Audience for “Good Burger 2”
Eight years ago, Kenan and Kel reprised their characters for a sketch on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” It was a nice dose of nostalgia for millennials. To expand that sketch into a 90-minute movie featuring the teen cast now in their 40s is bold but also a head-scratcher. Is the movie meant for families? Do kids still like “Good Burger?” I don’t have answers, but seeing fart jokes doesn’t hit the funny bone the same way it used to.
Who Is This For?
Fans of the original Good Burger or looking for some ‘90s nostalgia might enjoy “Good Burger 2.”
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