Long live the king
Eddie Murphy rules in comic hit ‘Coming 2 America’
Can we book a flight back to Zamunda? You bet we can in “Coming 2 America,” an arguably even funnier sequel to the John Landis-directed 1988 hit and signature Eddie Murphy film “Coming to America.” Directed by Craig Brewer of “Hustle & Flow” and the underrated “The Legend of Tarzan,” this new film is a virtual musical comedy with eyepopping, colorful and elaborate African-inspired costumes by Academy Award winner Ruth E. Carter of Springfield and a very funny screenplay by Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”) and the team of Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield of the original with a little help from Murphy again. Arsenio Hall is back as well as Semmi and several other characters. Prince Akeem (Murphy) is at the bedside of his father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) as he nears death and demands his funeral be held before he dies.
That’s when this movie puts on the first of several surprise song-and dance productions, one featuring Miss Gladys Knight. Newly crowned King Akeem has troubles in the form of warmongering General Izzi (a hilarious, scene-stealing Wesley Snipes, standing in for the late Calvin Lockhart). Izzi is the trigger-happy ruler of the kingdom named — ahem — Nextdoria. Thanks to Akeem’s kooky and creepy witch doctor (also Hall), Akeem and Semmi learn of a son and male heir Akeem unknowingly left behind in Queens, New York, 30 years
earlier. His name is Lavelle Junson (a very appealing Jermaine Fowler), and he was raised by his mother Mary (Leslie Jones) and
Uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan). Akeem also has three daughters, one of whom assumed she’d rule Zamunda as its queen. Izzi is placated
when Akeem assures him Prince Lavelle will marry his daughter Bopoto (Teyana Taylor) after he passes his “princely tests.” These include cutting whiskers from a live lion.
The barbershop scenes featuring multiple Murphys and Halls — and Murphy doing his old (and now perhaps liable to outrage some?) Jewish man impression — are still comic highlights of the film. The old age makeup designed for the original film by master Rick Baker remains another key element in the “Coming to America” formula. Shari Headley ably reprises her role as Lisa, Akeem’s queen. With an even stronger supporting cast, “Coming 2
America” never flags and is the most consistently funny film I have seen in a quite a while. As the eldest daughter Meeka, KiKi Lane (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) is another standout. Snipes and Hall are so good in this, you have to wonder where they have been. Jones and Morgan happily bring their unique comic styles to the proceedings. Colin Jost is better in one minute of this film than he is in the entire “Tom and Jerry” mess.
Chameleonesque Murphy remains a genuine king of comedy and seems even warmer now that he has had time to age. Snipes adds so many bells and whistles to his performance that he turns Izzi into a whirling, comic windup toy. You have not lived if you have not seen this General dance in a quilt. Hail Zamunda.
(“Coming 2 America” contains crude and lewd humor and profanity.)