BOMBSHELL Downfall of a TV news titan
Hard-hitting drama about the downfall of Fox News titan Roger Ailes, who was forced to resign in 2016 following allegations of sexual harassment from 23 women. John Lithgow is virtually unrecognisable as the predatory CEO, while Charlize Theron is at the height of her powers as accuser Megyn Kelly. Nicole Kidman (below left) plays TV anchor Gretchen Carlson, whose lawsuit marked the beginning of the end for Ailes. StarzPlay, available now
Back in 1988, when the original and hugely popular Coming To America came out, Eddie Murphy played Akeem, a pampered African prince from the fictional country of Zamunda, who travelled to America to find a bride who stimulated his intellect as well as his, er, loins. Improbably, he found her, the lovely Lisa (Shari Headley) working in her father’s burger joint in Queens. Sweet.
Slightly more than three decades later, Akeem and his faithful if gaffe-prone servant, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), are heading back to Queens, this time in search of an illegitimate son Akeem hitherto knew nothing about. So why go looking for him?
Well, it’s all a bit complicated but essentially Akeem’s dying father, King Jaffe (James Earl Jones), believes his spoilt son won’t last a month as king of Zamunda and the country’s tradition requires a male heir. Which is bad news, obviously, for Akeem and
Lisa’s three spirited daughters. Uh-oh, I spy trouble ahead…
As story pick-ups go, this is a pretty good one, and if you liked/loved the original you’ll probably feel much the same way about this knockabout but likeable sequel directed by Craig Brewer, who also directed Murphy in the much-praised Dolemite Is My Name.
Just about every member of the original cast seems to return for at least a cameo. Wesley Snipes joins them as General Izzi ( warlord brother of Akeem’s original intended bride) and Murphy ( left) and Hall reprise their multiple supporting roles, My-T Sharp barbers included. And while the gratuitous female nudity has gone, the schoolboy interest in bodily parts and functions remain. Some things just never change…
One of the unfortunate aspects of feminism is that our daughters often seem to be fighting the same battles our mothers did half a century ago and that’s a theme the comic actor and occasional director Amy Poehler explores in her rousing high school comedy, Moxie.
Vivian – very nicely played by Hadley Robinson – is a shy 16-year-old who’s just reaching that age when she wants to shake things up. So when a feisty new girl stands up to being harassed by the boorish football captain, Vivian – inspired by her mother’s own activism – launches an underground feminist magazine, Moxie. What ensues is funny, surprisingly subtle and unexpectedly uplifting.