Twenty-six years is a hell of a long time to wait for a burger. When Paramount+ finally dropped Good Burger 2 in late 2023, the internet had a collective meltdown of both nostalgia and skepticism. Could Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell really recapture that 1997 lightning in a bottle, or was this just another corporate cash grab fueled by millennial desperation? Honestly, looking back at it now, the movie is a weird, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt time capsule that handles the "legacy sequel" trope better than most big-budget franchises.
It's nostalgic. It's loud.
Ed is still Ed. Dexter is still Dexter. But the world around them shifted into this high-tech, automated nightmare that feels a little too close to home in 2026.
The plot kicks off when Dexter Reed, played by Kenan with that same frantic energy he brings to Saturday Night Live, finds himself down on his luck after another failed invention. He ends up back at Good Burger, the place he swore he’d left behind. Meanwhile, Ed (Kel Mitchell) hasn't aged a day mentally. He’s still the cashier. He still loves orange soda. He’s still the heart of the joint. The conflict arises when a massive mega-corp called MegaCorp (subtle, right?) tries to buy them out to replace every human worker with "Auto-Burger" robots. It’s basically a satire of the fast-food industry’s current obsession with AI and automation, wrapped in a bright yellow paper hat.
Why the Good Burger 2 Nostalgia Hit Differently
Most sequels fail because they try to "grow up." They get gritty or overly self-aware. Good Burger 2 leaned into the absurdity. It didn't try to be The Bear. It stayed a live-action cartoon.
There's something deeply comforting about seeing Kel Mitchell slide across a counter. He hasn't lost the physicality of the character. You can tell these two actually like each other in real life. That chemistry is the only reason the movie works. Without it, the script—which is admittedly thin in places—would have collapsed under the weight of its own cameos. And man, there are a lot of cameos. We’re talking Pete Davidson, Gronk, Al Roker, and even Mark Cuban. It’s a lot. Sometimes it feels like a fever dream.
But here is the thing: the movie actually respects the original. It doesn’t retcon the 90s classic. It just adds another layer of sauce.
The Problem With Modern Fast Food Satire
The film spends a lot of time mocking "MegaCorp" and its CEO, Cecil McNevin, played by Lil Rel Howery. Cecil is the brother of Kurt Bozwell—the villain from the first movie who tried to poison the town with Triampethol. It’s a nice bit of continuity. The "Auto-Burger" machines are creepy, soulless, and designed to look exactly like Ed and Dexter.
It’s a bit on the nose.
We see this happening in the real world now. Ordering kiosks, flipped screens asking for 25% tips for a bagel you picked up yourself, and "dark kitchens" that don't even have a storefront. Good Burger 2 uses Ed as the ultimate counter-argument to this trend. Ed isn't efficient. He’s "helpful" in the most chaotic way possible. He remembers customers. He cares about the secret sauce. He represents the human element that technology can't replicate. It’s a surprisingly deep message for a movie that features a scene where a guy gets hit in the face with a giant burger.
The Cameos: Gold or Gimmick?
If you’re watching this for a tight, Oscar-worthy narrative, you’re in the wrong place. This is a variety show disguised as a movie.
The cameos come fast.
- Lori Beth Denberg returns as Connie Muldoon, and yes, she still has a very complicated order.
- Josh Server shows up as Fizz.
- Carmen Electra makes an appearance that feels like a direct nod to everyone who had a poster of her in 1997.
Some people hated this. They felt it was distracting. I’d argue it’s the whole point. Good Burger 2 is a celebration of a specific era of Nickelodeon culture. It’s for the kids who grew up watching All That on Saturday nights while eating pizza on the living room floor. If you didn't grow up with that, the humor might feel alien or just plain dumb. But for the target audience? Seeing Kenan and Kel back together is like a warm hug from your childhood.
Behind the Scenes: Making the Sequel Happen
Getting this movie made wasn't easy. For years, it was just a "maybe" or a "we’ll see."
Kenan Thompson mentioned in several interviews, including his 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show, that the stars finally aligned because they found a script that didn't feel forced. They worked with writers Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, the original architects of the Good Burger universe. This is crucial. When you bring back the original writers, you keep the DNA intact. They didn't try to make it "edgy." They kept it PG. They kept the puns. They kept the "I’m a dude, he’s a dude" song (though they updated it with a remix that honestly didn't need to happen, but hey, that's showbiz).
The filming took place in Rhode Island. They actually converted an old Friendly’s restaurant into the Good Burger set. You can find fans on TikTok who drove hours just to stand in the parking lot during filming. That’s the kind of cult following this thing has.
Addressing the Critics
Rotten Tomatoes has the movie sitting at a respectable—but not incredible—score. Critics generally liked the chemistry but found the plot thin.
They aren't wrong.
The middle act drags. Some of the jokes land with a thud. There's a sequence involving a high-speed chase with a giant burger mobile that feels like it was edited by someone on a sugar rush. However, looking at the audience scores, people generally enjoyed it more than the "professional" reviewers. Why? Because the movie knows exactly what it is. It’s a movie about two guys who sell burgers and accidentally save the world from a corporate overlord. It’s not trying to be Inception.
What You Might Have Missed
There are small Easter eggs scattered throughout for the hardcore fans.
- The "Mondo Burger" references are everywhere.
- The secret sauce recipe is still a major plot point, though it’s treated with almost religious reverence this time.
- Ed’s family is briefly mentioned, giving him a tiny bit more depth than he had in the 90s.
One thing that really stands out is the lighting and color palette. Modern movies are often grey and muted. Good Burger 2 is vibrant. It’s orange, blue, and bright yellow. It looks like a comic book. In a world of "prestige TV" where everything is filmed in the dark, the visual brightness of this movie is actually refreshing.
The Future of the Franchise
Is there going to be a Good Burger 3?
Kenan and Kel have both expressed interest. The streaming numbers on Paramount+ were reportedly very strong during the holiday season of its release. If the audience is there, the burgers will keep flipping. But there’s a risk of diminishing returns. The "legacy sequel" trick usually only works once. If they do a third one, they’ll need to do more than just rely on nostalgia. They’ll need a story that actually takes Ed and Dexter somewhere new. Maybe they go international? "Good Burger: Tokyo Drift"? Okay, probably not.
How to Enjoy Good Burger 2 Today
If you haven't watched it yet, don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Go in for the vibes.
Practical steps for the best viewing experience:
- Watch the 1997 original first. It’s not required, but the callbacks in the sequel land much better if the first one is fresh in your mind.
- Lower your "cinema" expectations. This is a comedy for families and nostalgic 30-somethings.
- Look for the cameos. Half the fun is pointing at the screen and saying, "Hey, isn't that...?"
- Pay attention to the tech satire. The "Auto-Burger" plot is actually a pretty sharp commentary on the loss of entry-level jobs in America, even if it’s delivered via a guy in a wig.
The film serves as a reminder that sometimes, we don't need a reboot or a gritty reimagining. Sometimes, we just need two friends, a ridiculous car, and a burger with way too much sauce. It’s not perfect, but it’s exactly what it promised to be. It’s a Good Burger.
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To get the most out of the experience, check the "Extras" or "Behind the Scenes" features on Paramount+. They show the cast breaking character during the more ridiculous improv takes, which is often funnier than the movie itself. Keep an eye out for the "making of the burger" segments which detail how the production design team managed to recreate the iconic aesthetic of the original shop using a defunct fast-food location in New England.