What’s It About
Dexter Reed is down on his luck after another one of his inventions fails. Ed welcomes Dex back to Good Burger with open arms and gives him his old job back. With a new crew working at Good Burger, Dex devises a plan to get back on his feet but unfortunately puts the fate of Good Burger at risk once again.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Arriving 26 years after the beloved 1997 Nickelodeon comedy, “Good Burger 2” aligns with the current streaming-era trend where audiences crave a nostalgic connection to old favorites like “Coming to America” or “Hocus Pocus” – films that may not be classics but offer a dose of comfort from more innocent times. Unfortunately, this sequel, now on Paramount+, fails to capture the charm of its predecessor. Starring Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson, reprising their roles as hapless fast-food employees, the film attempts to bring the story into 2023 by introducing new characters and a stupid plot involving robots. Cameos include Leslie Jones, Maya Rudolph, and Pete Davidson, but the film fails to give them substantial roles. Relying on the recognition of famous faces, the film misses the chance to provide witty material for these talents. A parody of the infamous “Imagine” video offers additional cameos. The story revolves around a Kenan and Kel reunion. Ed (Mitchell) now owns Good Burger, where he plays a benevolent boss. Dexter (Thompson) is an inventor who, after a failed device unveiling, reluctantly returns to his teenage job alongside Ed. The setup is fast but doesn’t make sense, even by kids’ logic. It doesn’t take long for Mitchell and Thompson to share the screen quickly, but the chemistry between them is overshadowed by the introduction of tedious new characters and a convoluted, humorless plot. A scheming businessperson (Jillian Bell) with ties to the first movie aims to franchise Good Burger and oust Ed, assisted by a shadowy lawyer (Lil Rel Howery) who manipulates Dexter into betraying his friend. Thompson, a “Saturday Night Live” stalwart, is particularly wasted playing the straight man to Mitchell’s flashy character. Forced into explaining wacky behavior instead of showcasing his comedic talent, Thompson’s potential remains untapped. Mitchell, lacking engaging material, resorts to an unpleasant high-pitched voice and “aw shucks” attitude, even screwing up the opportunity to bring something fresh to the robot version of his character. Good Burger 2 struggles to find a humorous angle, experimenting with sped-up delivery, shoddy special effects, and obvious body doubles. The screenplay unfolds as a series of frustrating misunderstandings, followed by equally frustrating explanations, with characters yelling above one another. For a sequel that was a long time coming, “Good Burger 2” should have easily delivered.
OUR RATING – A NOT-SO-FRESH 4