Good Burger 2 Review: Sloppy Sequel Late-90s Nickelodeon Hit Arrives Quarter-Century Too Late

'Good Burger 2' brings back Kenan and Kel, but the sequel has a convoluted and humorless plot with lame jokes.

"Good Burger 2" is a long-awaited sequel to the cult-favorite Nickelodeon comedy from 1997. The film follows the streaming-era trend of reconnecting with old favorites for a nostalgia bump, much like "Coming to America" or "Hocus Pocus." Starring Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson, the movie attempts to update the story to 2023 by adding new characters and an AI plot. However, it falls short of delivering the humor and chemistry of the original.

The film reunites Kenan and Kel, with Ed (Mitchell) now owning the Good Burger restaurant and Dexter (Thompson) working as an inventor. However, the introduction of tedious new characters and a convoluted plot detracts from the chemistry between the two stars. A nefarious businessperson wants to franchise Good Burger and replace the workforce with robots that look and act like Ed, leading to a predictable showdown with the heroes.

While the plot is simplistic, the film's problem lies in its lame jokes and repetitive dialogue, leaving the cast stranded and mugging for the cameras. Thompson's comedic talent is wasted as he is forced into playing the straight man, while Mitchell resorts to an unpleasant high-pitched voice and an "aw shucks" attitude. The film also underutilizes cameos from "SNL" colleagues Leslie Jones, Maya Rudolph, and Pete Davidson, opting for recognizable faces over witty writing.

Director Phil Traill and editor Christian Hoffman struggle to find a hilarious take, resorting to speeding up the actors' delivery and using shoddy special effects. The screenplay is filled with frustrating misunderstandings and explanations, leaving the characters yelling above one another to no avail. Overall, "Good Burger 2" fails to live up to the long wait for a sequel and misses the mark on delivering the humor and charm of the original.

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