Synopsis:
Calling all dudes—buckle up, because the new adventures of Ed and Dex start now! Your favorite fast-food duo is back and serving up nostalgic laughs and new antics in Good Burger 2. Follow Dexter Reed (Kenan Thompson) and original cashier Ed (Kel Mitchell) as they reunite in the present day at fast-food restaurant Good Burger with a hilarious new group of employees. Dexter 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.
What We Thought:
I’m a bit older than most people think so I didn’t grow up watching All That, Kenan & Kel and other mid to late 1990s Nickelodeon shows. I know of them and know the stars and future shows that came from them, but they weren’t favorites from my youth. I had to rewatch the original Good Burger to even remind myself of what it was about prior to watching Good Burger 2. It’s not a movie that has a nostalgic hold on me compared to other people. Because of that, my response to Good Burger 2 will be different than it is for those who grew up on the first movie and couldn’t wait to watch the sequel.
As for Good Burger 2, I had the same reaction to it I had rewatching the first film, Kenan Thompson was clearly the best of the duo. He’s had the bigger career, being one of the longest running cast members of Saturday Night Live for a reason, he has good timing. In comedy duos it’s usually the wild card and not the straight man who has the bigger career. David Spade has a longer career because Chris Farley died, but Farley is remembered much more than Spade. Mike Myers has had the bigger career than Dana Carvey. I can go on, but I won’t. So to see Kenan, who plays the more straight-laced character in both films, being more successful over Kel, the goofy wild card, is surprising. Because of Kenan I 100% prefer Dex over Ed because Dex is the more realistic character.
What the film does surprisingly well is actually have something to say. Yes it’s a goofball comedy for the generation that grew up on the film and shows, but it has something to say about fast food workers and getting to a point in life where most of its fans currently are. Dex has yet another invention go poorly and has to return to Good Burger and Ed to try to fix his life and get more money for more inventions. Ed has a wife and kids and runs Good Burger, the only job he’s ever known. Both men are different in terms of where they have gone in life, one wanting more, one wanting the comfort of hometown living. Add in the idea of using robotics to replace human workers and the movie shockingly has a lot to say.
That being said, it’s a comedy and the humor doesn’t always land for me. There are a ton of cameos in it and not being the generation it’s made for, I probably missed half of them. I really can’t tell you what Yung Gravy is famous for, but he’s in the movie. If you grew up laughing at Ed saying “Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger, can I take your order?” then the movie is more for you than it is me. I did laugh at Dex and supporting characters played by Ron Funches and Lil Rel Howery.
Good Burger 2 isn’t a trip down memory lane for me, but it might be for you. There are some call backs to the first film and I’m glad I caught the original recently because of it. If you grew up on these characters you’ll probably relate to them and the story because you’re probably the same age as them. So if you’re part of that first wave of Millennials and the group right below them, this is recommended for you.
Good Burger 2 DVD Bonus Features:
- Home of the Good Bloopers (Extended Version)
- The Comfort Food Classic
- Behind the Scenes with Kenan and Kel
- MEAT the Employees
- Q&A with the New Crew
- Employee Training Video
- Good Burger 1 Movie Recap
The Nerds Templar 