The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
It’s ‘2’ much
Similar-sounding sequel to ‘Coming to America’ an endless parade of callbacks
If, by some chance, you’ve been worrying “Coming 2 America” won’t reference your favorite moment from its terrific 1988 processor, “Coming to America,” you can relax. ¶ This movie almost certainly has you covered. ¶ “Coming 2 America” originally was planned for theaters but, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, instead is debuting this week on Amazon’s Prime Video service. ¶ So filled with references, callbacks and cameos is this comedy sequel starring Eddie Murphy and featuring a huge supporting cast that it only half-heartedly even tries to tell a new story. ¶ It’s a bummer.
Look, it’s enjoyable to see comedy veteran Murphy reprise one of his iconic roles, Prince Akeem of lush African country Zamunda. And, sure, it’s fun to see everyone from Arsenio Hall to James Earl Jones to John Amos — the latter’s jovial Cleo McDowell now has a location of his McDowell’s (which is still nothing like McDonald’s, mind you) in Zamunda — but so many characters feel inorganically crammed into the affair. And, no, it’s not as if
“Coming 2 America” has some revolutionary story to tell. Still, more could have been made of plotlines revolving around two characters; Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler), the young American man who, unbeknownst to either of them initially, is Akeem’s son; and Meeka (KiKi Layne), Akeem’s oldest daughter, who has prepared to assume the country’s throne someday despite Zamundan tradition dictating rule must be passed to a male heir. Instead, the movie treats them as the vegetables we’re required to eat if we want to receive dessert. In this food metaphor, Murphy is the protein — the steak — anchoring the meal, and we can’t complain too much about that. The gifted comedian slips back into this royal role with what comes across as ease. We pick back up with Akeem on the 30th anniversary of his marriage to Lisa (again played by Shari Headley), the royal bride he ventured to Queens, New York, to find. They are greeted by their three daughters — the middle child, Omma, is played by Murphy’s daughter Bella Murphy — and then loyalbut-grumpy servant Semmi (Hall). Akeem is summoned to a meeting with his ailing father, King Joffer (James Earl Jones), who scolds him for not producing a son in Zamunda. He then reluctantly informs him about the existence of Lavelle. (The king also demands Akeem hold his wildly lavish, celebrityfilled funeral while he’s alive to enjoy it.) Meanwhile, Akeem is feeling pressure from General Izzi (Wesley Snipes), the militant leader of neighboring country Nexdoria (ahem). To keep the peace with the wealthier Zumunda, Izzi wants Meeka to marry to his son, an idea she doesn’t adore.
Of course, Akeem and Semmi come back to America, encountering, among other familiar faces, the barbershop crew of Morris (Hall), Sweets (Clint Smith) and Clarence and Saul (both Murphy). Akeem again is referred to as “Kunta Kinte,” with Semmi now called “Ebola,” and Morris is dumbfounded when learning what brought Akeem back to America. “No child support for 30 years and you came back?!?” he says in disbelief. (Just an aside: The makeup work to turn Murphy into Saul is, as it was those many years ago, unbelievably good.) To make the existence of Lavelle possible, the sequel retcons his mother, Mary (Leslie Jones of “Saturday Night Live”), into the night at the club from the first movie, and it does so rather impressively from a technical standpoint. With Mary in tow, Lavelle ventures with Akeem back to Zamunda, where he struggles to exhibit the traits needed to show he’s worthy of one day sitting on the throne. And although he hastily agrees to wed Izzi’s daughter, Bopoto (Teyana Taylor), after she is given one heckuva introduction, he soon develops romantic chemistry with his lovely royal barber, Mirembe (Nomzamo Mbatha). While Mirembe’s dreams reside away from the palace, Meeka’s continue to live within its walls. Nonetheless, she puts aside her desires to one day lead the country and attempts to help get Lavelle up to royal snuff. Initially, the “Coming 2 America” script was crafted by the screenwriting tandem of Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield, who have collaborated on Murphy with movies including “Boomerang” and “The Nutty Professor.” It was then handed off to “black-ish” creator Kenya Barris, credited in the production notes with expanding on the “feminist statement” begun by Blaustein and Sheffield. To their credit, one of the movie’s successes is Akeem’s eventual confrontation with this outdated tradition that says a woman can’t rule the kingdom. But director Craig Brewer — who was at the helm for the enjoyable 2019 film “Dolemite Is My Name,” which stars Murphy and features Sipes — is too content to play the hits. There is sooooo much microwaving of ideas from the first movie well before we spend an achingly long amount of time with Hall’s Rev. Brown in the film’s final act. (Dear Lord-ah! Please let it end-ah!) “Coming 2 America” is entertaining here and there, but it’s mostly in a nostalgic way. That’s particularly disappointing considering there’s a lot to like with Fowler (“Superior Donuts,” “Crashing”) and Layne (“The Old Guard,” “If Beale Street Can Talk”). Perhaps if the powers that be find yet another reason for Akeem to come to America in a third installment, the new generation will get more of a chance to shine. You probably shouldn’t bet a whole bunch of McDowell’s Egg McStuffins on that, however.