Coming 2 America Movie Review: The Eddie Murphy Sequel Celebrates African Culture & Is Heavy On Nostalgia
Coming 2 America is for the Eddie Murphy fans waiting for a woke version of the story. Despite challenging its predecessor's storytelling, the film is still a one time watch.
Star
Cast:
Eddie
Murphy,
Arsenio
Hall,
Jermaine
Fowler,
Leslie
Jones,
Tracy
Morgan
Director:
Craig
Brewer
Duration:
1h
50m
Language:
English
Story:
Eddie
Murphy
and
Arsenio
Hall
reunite
33
years
later
for
the
sequel
to
the
1998
classic
rom-com.
The
film
once
again
follows
Prince
Akeem
of
Zamunda
as
he
takes
on
the
role
of
a
King
and
has
to
prepare
the
heir
to
his
throne.
Review:
Coming
2
America
directed
by
Craig
Brewer
is
a
sequel
to
the
classic
fairytale
of
a
prince
finding
his
one
true
love,
Coming
to
America
(1988).
The
film
follows
Prince
Akeem
of
Zamunda
around
30
years
after
his
first
visit
to
America
to
find
his
true
love.
This
time,
he
isn't
looking
for
love
but
his
true
heir
to
the
throne,
his
son.
The
sequel
answers
some
of
the
burning
questions
left
behind
by
its
predecessor
released
in
1988.
It
also
attempts
to
right
some
wrongs
with
themes
of
patriarchy
and
sexism
that
plays
well
with
the
larger
plot
of
the
film.
After
his
father
played
by
James
Earl
Jones,
passes
away,
Akeem
becomes
the
King
and
his
first
order
of
business
is
to
safeguard
his
male
heir
to
the
throne.
He
has
three
beautiful,
strong
and
wise
daughters,
all
fit
to
rule
after
him
but
none
are
given
the
right
because
of
the
age-old
laws
written
by
their
ancestors.
Now,
King
Akeem
quickly
jets
back
to
Queens,
New
York
and
picks
up
his
bastard
son
Lavelle
(Jermaine
Fowler)
and
his
mother
Leslie
Jones.
While
the
plot
moves
forward
the
story
stays
the
same,
the
heir
to
the
throne
once
again
is
offered
a
hand
in
marriage
by
the
neighbouring
country
but
he
finds
his
true
love
in
someone
else.
Meanwhile,
Akeem's
eldest
daughter,
who
grew
up
hoping
to
take
the
throne
grows
jealous.
She
eventually
learns
to
accept
her
brother
and
her
new
place
in
the
palace.
However,
Coming
2
America
is
not
about
the
story
or
the
characters,
it
is
more
about
righting
the
wrong.
The
African
American
cast
is
exceptionally
aware
of
its
presence
and
the
makers
have
taken
full
advantage
to
display
the
African
culture
at
its
best.
Most
of
the
film
takes
place
in
Zamunda,
unlike
the
1988
release
which
took
place
in
New
York.
The
film
pridefully
presents
its
culture
through
the
lavish
land,
the
wilderness,
beautiful
gowns,
and
gorgeous
jewellery.
While
the
film's
soundtrack
deserves
all
the
praise,
the
same
cannot
be
said
about
the
screenplay.
The
film
focuses
more
on
its
visual
presence
than
what's
underneath.
Most
of
the
characters
have
very
little
or
no
purpose
in
the
film.
Especially
the
women
in
the
story,
who
have
very
little
screen
time,
which
also
gets
dedicated
to
uplift
the
men
around
them.
Overall,
Coming
2
America
is
for
the
Eddie
Murphy
fans
waiting
for
a
woke
version
of
the
story.
Despite
challenging
its
predecessor's
storytelling,
the
film
is
still
a
one
time
watch.