Coming 2 America (2021)

Directed by: Craig Brewer | 110 minutes | comedy | Actors: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Teyana Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Paul Bates, Nomzamo Mbatha, Bella Murphy, Akiley love

Ask anyone growing up in the 1980s about their favorite movie comedy from that era, and you’ll likely get “Coming to America” ​​(1988) as an answer. The hilarious adventures of the naive Crown Prince Akeem of the fictional African kingdom of Zamunda and his inseparable, slightly snobbish assistant Semmi, who search for a suitable marriage partner in the New York borough of Queens, was received with open arms by the film audience despite poor reviews. It was the time when just about everything Eddie Murphy touched turned to gold. With the equally hilarious ‘Trading Places’ (1983), the action comedy series ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ’48 Hours’ and his unparalleled stand-up shows ‘Delirious’ (1983) and ‘Raw’ (1987), Murphy was one of the biggest movie stars of the decade. In the 1990s, that line was extended to ‘The Nutty Professor’ (1997), after which the audience was tired of the endless dressing up and screaming fun of underpants of Murphy and he left the viewer alone with his voice-over work in the ‘Shrek’ films. still really captivated. After years of acting on the margins, Murphy suddenly made a successful comeback in 2019 with the biographical Netflix production ‘Dolemite Is My Name’, which immediately earned him a Golden Globe nomination. One must iron when it’s hot, Murphy and Dolemite director Craig Brewer must have thought, so they’re now releasing a highly anticipated sequel to the cult classic “Coming to America.”

There are several reasons why this sequel did not come much earlier. Murphy and director John Landis struggled, who found the star arrogant and insufferable and called him a “pig.” The studio also never expected Murphy to score so well without a white “sidekick” next to him, as in his previous hit films. But there was mainly a lingering plagiarism case that got in the way of a sequel and that cost the studio a lot of money. Partly due to Murphy’s extinguished career, it took more than thirty years before a follow-up film to ‘Coming to America’ became an interesting option again. The sequel was given the unoriginal title ‘Coming 2 America’ (2021); that uninspiredness is immediately a harbinger of what to expect. Because ‘Coming 2 America’ is much, much of the same. The film begins as Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his American bride Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley) celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary. The couple has three daughters, but according to the constitution of the kingdom of Zamunda, only one man can be heir to the throne. But then Akeem’s father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), brings him the news on his deathbed that there is an illegitimate prince in New York. This Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler) is said to have been conceived during the visit that Akeem and Semmi (Arsenio Hall) paid to Queens thirty years ago. Akeem doesn’t remember because he was drugged when he was seduced by Lavelle’s mother. Together with Semmi, he is forced to return to New York to find his son. And the urgency is urgent, as General Izzi (Wesley Snipes) of the neighboring militaristic empire Nexdoria (!) threatens a hostile takeover of Zamunda if Akeem’s eldest daughter does not marry his son…

‘Coming 2 America’ moves events from New York to Zamunda. Once Akeem takes his son and his family (Mother Mary is played by Leslie Jones, Uncle Reem by Tracy Morgan) to Africa, we get the familiar game of getting closer. Lavelle must pass some dangerous tests to prove he has what it takes to become king, while learning some important life lessons, while General Izzi tries to thwart the whole affair. Akeem, in turn, sees that it is not up to him to determine how someone should live his life, a lesson he himself learned in the first film. That the plot is more or less a blueprint of the story of the first film is not even such a disaster. What’s more annoying is that all the moments and jokes that made ‘Coming to America’ so much fun are recycled here cheaply (sometimes even word for word!) and are suddenly a lot less hilarious. In addition, certain scenes seem to have been completely dragged in, such as King Jaffe Joffer’s farewell service, which seems to be mostly an excuse to see as many stars of the past as possible – Salt ‘n Pepa, En Vogue, Gladys Knight – to be brought in for a musical intermezzo.

It’s nice for the fans that a significant part of the original cast reappears here, even if it is sometimes for an ultra-short contribution. In addition to Murphy, Hall, Headley and Jones, we also see Paul Bates (Oha), John Amos (Cleo McDowell), Louie Anderson (Maurice) and Vanessa Bell Calloway (Princess Imani Izzi) reprising their roles. There are also many references to the first film, which gives the sequel an extra layer for anyone watching for nostalgic reasons. It is also commendable that ‘Coming 2 America’ is a lot less misogynistic and patriarchal than its predecessor. As in 1988, Murphy and Hall once again take on the role of various secondary characters, including the old men in the hair salon and the groping pastor. No matter how well they do this, it is still a repetition of moves. Even the end credits bloopers disappoint somewhat, though the sweet-voiced version of John Legend’s “She’s Your Queen To Be” in the closing credits is a sparse highlight (in the original, the song was sung by King’s faithful servant played by Paul Bates). Jaffe Joffer, Oha).

If you’re a fan of the original, it’s tempting to want to see ‘Coming 2 America’. More of the same, what’s wrong with that – you might think. The plot of this new film basically follows in reverse that of part one and the jokes are recycled – sometimes literally. Murphy, Hall and Wesley Snipes have already passed their peak for some time and the stars that the film contrasts play a minor role. Well, the reunion with all those old acquaintances has something, but most of them have little substantial to crumble in the milk. ‘Coming 2 America’ is based purely on nostalgia and the reputation of the first film. Be sensible and skip this sequel; you’d better slide the original into the DVD player one more time!