Coming 2 America is here and we have some fun in Zamunda with some new characters and welcome back old ones! It has hit theaters and Amazon Prime on March 4th. This sequel is directed by Craig Brewer, Murphy’s director for Dolemite Is My Name (2019). The screenplay is by Kenya Barris, the creator of Black-ish, Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield, the duo co-wrote the screenplay for the original Coming to America and The Nutty Professor (1996). They co-wrote the story with Justin Kanew, who wrote the comedy Adam and Eve (2005). We move quickly from Paramount Mountain to the plains of Zamunda, there are animals that scatter away, until we get to the palace. There is the Rose Bearer Priestess, Garcelle Beauvais, who was a mere rose bearer in the first movie. Then, is the introduction of the three princesses; the youngest, Tinashe (Akiley Love), Omma (Bella Murphy), and the oldest, Mikka (Kiki Layne). Layne was recently in the action movie, The Old Guard, playing Nile Freeman. Next, we see Oha (Paul Bates), who was very funny in the original. There are photos of moments and characters from the first film.
Oha rings a chime, curtains are drawn open and this wakens Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and Princess Lisa (Shari Headley). The fun, regal, and beautiful costumes are by Ruth E. Carter, she also fashioned the costumes in Black Panther (2018) and Murphy's last film, Dolemite Is My Name (2019). They are happy to see their daughters. Mikka notes that it is their anniversary, we are told 30 years, which may put Coming to America at 1991. We also see the Zamundan location of McDowell’s, very funny! They arrive at McDowell’s where we see the owner and father of Lisa, Cleo McDowell (John Amos). Also, the employee and manager, Maurice (Louie Anderson) announces the new Beyond Big McBurger made of grass! Later, Akeem spars with his fighting stick, against Mikka and his other daughters. Seemi (Arsenio Hall) enters to bring Akeem speak with his father. father. Meeka brings up if it is about a suitor to marry her. Akeem walks with Seemi and Oha bursts in to warn them about Nexdorian soldiers, the name is too on point to be funny. A jeep and trucks bring in the soldiers, a lieutenant announces the arrival of their leader, General Izzi (Wesley Snipes). He is surprisingly fun as a general with part threat and part style. His sister, Imani (Vanessa Bell Calloway), is still barking like in Coming to America.
Izzi is angry that Akeem denied her marriage and the prince says that has tried to help Nexdoria. He notes the potential marriage of Akeem’s daughter and brings in his son, Idi Izzi (Rotimi). Akeem says that marriage will never happen. Izzi brings up war and leaves them. Then, we see King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), in his bed. He would rather Semmi die and agreeing is the old shaman, Baba (also played by Hall), a short part, but the best played by Hall. Baba reveals that Akeem has a son! Seemi tries to sneak away until commanded by the king to tell the truth to Akeem! We see a recap of the nightclub scenes from movie one. Semmi heads off and mentions Akeem is a prince to one Mary Junson (Leslie Jones)! At her apartment, we hear the Soul Glo commercial!, but Akeem remembers the woman offering him “ceremonial herbs”! Akeem chokes Semmi, but then is amazed he has a son, Baba shows him a drawing of him. He is told by Baba that he is the “weak one” and his father says Izzi will assassinate him. Baba tells Akeem to “follow the thunderbird.” Joffe wants a “spectacular” funeral when he was alive with a special narrator. He is spotlighted in a coffin. The narrator introduces the musical acts, wow!, with the kingly remakes of their hit. There is a dance and another singer, just stunning.
Joffe tells his son that he is dying and lowers his head. A funeral bell is chimed with gongs and Akeem tells Semmi that they are going back to America to find his son! We go from the drawing to see the son, Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler) preparing for a job interview. There to help support him is his uncle, Reem (Tracy Morgan), he actually gives him tickets to scalp. Lavelle wants a respectable job and notes that he is 30. His interview is with Mr. Calvin Duke (Colin Jost)! Lavelle mentions the judgment of Duke and leaves. We get John Legend and Burna Boy as we see the Zamundan lear jet that is gold with King Jaffer on the tail land in New York. Akeem and Seemi exit the limoscene and see the barber shop, My-T-Sharp! We have the funny barber shop quartet of Murphy and Hall’s characters including Sweets (Clint Smith). Akeem shows them the picture of his son and they recognize him as the ticket scalper at Madison Square Garden. It is also brought up that the mascot is a Thunderbird! Lavelle is out trying to sell the tickets and Akeem recognizes him from the limo. Seemi convinces Akeem that he will be recognized in his princely robes so he wears a new outfit! Akeem tells Lavelle that he is heir to the throne of Zamunda.
At her apartment, Mary is preparing food for her son’s birthday. The Junsons give birthday wishes to Lavelle and Mary is stunned to see Akeem. Lavelle says he doesn’t want to be an heir and then Seemi “accidentally” drops open a case of bills and gold bars. He demands that his mother comes with him to Zamunda. At the palace, Queen Lisa is not happy at the news about Akeem’s son. Then, Lavelle enters with Mary, Lisa is stunned, and also her daughters. We get a glimpse of Nexdoria with soldiers working out, very funny, and General Izzi reading stories to children. A lieutenant (Rick Ross!) informs the general of Akeem’s son. At the dinner table, it is brought up that Lavelle will eventually become king, this upsets the other daughters, and Mikka leaves them. Later, Lisa tells Akeem that Mikka was trained to rule Zamunda all her life. In the morning, Lavelle wakes up in the palace, it’s good to be the king…or the prince. He goes to his room to see the royal groomer, Mirembe (Nomzamo Mbatha). She was in the romantic film, All About Love (2017).
Lavelle and Mary are dressed in royal finery and announced to the Zamundan court. Akeem calls for an interruption, General Izzi arrives, he presents his daughter, Bopoto (Teyana Taylor). She sings and dances to “Prince & The New Power Generation’s “Gett Off” picked up by Lavelle. The marriage is interrupted by Baba who says Lavelle must pass the princely tests and General Izzi gives it one week. ZNN features the host, Totatsi Bibinyana (Trevor Noah), funny!, who brings the latest Zamundan news. I love the princely tests including one involving the whiskers of a lion! Lavelle has to learn how to be Zamundan, the reverse of Coming to America, but of course brings his own style. He also has to find love, kinda obvious, but it is all fun. There is enough characters, with available actors, from the original Coming to America that makes the sequel satisfying, but with a touch of the new. The new characters are funny and bring in the new generation. We get to explore more of Zamunda which is great, but I really wanted a nod to Black Panther. Coming 2 America offers a funny sequel, one of the better sequels to a franchise, with new characters and the twist that brings us more of Zamunda.
Four Whiskers of the Lion out of Five!
#Coming2America, #EddieMurphy, #ArsenioHall, #KikiLayne, #JermaineFowler #LeslieJones, #ShariHeadley, #NomzamoMbatha
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