Coming 2 America (C or 2/4 stars)
I enjoyed 1988's Coming to America, and now a sequel (directed by Craig Brewer) pops-up some 30+ yrs. later to entertain us again. Most sequels underwhelm and, well, this one - while not 'bad' - is no different. As the film opens, Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is about to become King of fictional Zamunda, as his father, King Jaffe Joffer (90 yr. old James Earl Jones), is about to die. Following an incredibly lavish funeral {no surprise, there}, Akeem faces his 1st kingly crisis. General Izzi of Nexdoria (Wesley Snipes, ha) is threatening an invasion if the two nations cannot be united by marriage. Izzi proposes his seductive daughter, Bopoto (Teyana Taylor), for a match, but Akeem & his wife, Lisa (Shari Headley, nice to see her again after all these years), only have girls: Princess Meeka (KiKi Layne, from If Beale Street Could Talk), Princess Omma (Bella Murphy, one of Murphy's daughters) & Princess Tinashe (Akiley Love).
According to patriarchal laws, Akeem better hope he has a son floating around somewhere. And to that, Akeem learns that he DOES have an elusive {bastard} male heir in the form of American Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler), the 31 yr. old son of Mary (Leslie Jones) with whom Akeem had a one-night stand with in Queens before courting Lisa. Determined to discover his son & relocate him to Zamunda, Akeem journeys back to NY with his royal confidante/sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall). Realizing the riches they might inherit, Lavelle does travel to Zamunda with his mom & Uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan) to learns the ways of being a prince, including that arranged marriage with Gen. Izzi's daughter, Bopoto. But with Lavelle more interested in his royal groomer, Mirembe (Nomzamo Mbatha), it's uncertain whether the wedding will take place ... and if Izzi will take it as an insult. Hijinks ensue.
It's all about the writing here, folks. Though it is great to see these characters again, the story & jokes are simply not very good. In 1988, 'CtA' was fresh, funny & original. Having 30+ yrs. to hone a special script, this film, instead, feels like a pointless, tired retread. Comedies today are a different breed than what they were 30 yrs. ago. - when smart, cohesive comedic scenarios & dialogue outweighed 'meta' inside jokes & cheeky one-liners that only a portion of an audience might even 'get'. Worst of ALL, this movie just isn't very funny. Sure, it passes the time & it is highly watchable. But how do you NOT make a Coming to America sequel funny!? It did not make me laugh, and that. is. egregious. I realize how difficult it is to write a humorous script {it's why comedies are my least favorite genre - if you can't make me laugh during a 'comedy', there is an inherent failure there}. Occasional one-liners hit, but almost everything felt warmed over & clunky.
In the 1988 film, Murphy & Hall looked to be having a blast playing Akeem & Semmi, members of the My-T-Sharp barbershop crew, Rev. Brown, Randy Watson & his band Sexual Chocolate -- it was all fun ... and funny. But to me, they - with exception to Wesley Snipes & Leslie Jones {her brand of comedy hits & misses} - look like they're just going through the motions. Murphy is almost a supporting character - allowing Jermaine Fowler {who I like} to take the Zamunda/Queens fish-out-of-water reigns. Even when Murphy re-plays Randy Watson & sings "We Are Family" near the end, all that did was remind me of the ending of 1996's Birdcage when the same song was sung; an INFINITELY better comedy. Best of the bunch is scene-stealer Wesley Snipes as off-the-wall tyrant. There is a litany of indulgent cameos {SNL, musicians}, but most of them fall flat like the rest of the film.
I must commend the make-up work employed to create those old characters that we loved so. I also commend the ornate Zamunda sets & Academy Award-winner Ruth E. Carter's lavish costumes -- they wow. But aside from the spectacle, there is little else to praise, here. This is a film without an edge & without a spark -- what's up with that!? Missing is the je ne sais quoi magic of the original. Missing are any hysterical new characters or loveable characterizations to remember. Sure, there's nothing truly awful about it. I mention its easy watchability above. And there are some emotional themes about family & ethnicity. But the whole movie just coasts on nostalgia. And I wanted more. As is, it is thoroughly average.
According to patriarchal laws, Akeem better hope he has a son floating around somewhere. And to that, Akeem learns that he DOES have an elusive {bastard} male heir in the form of American Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler), the 31 yr. old son of Mary (Leslie Jones) with whom Akeem had a one-night stand with in Queens before courting Lisa. Determined to discover his son & relocate him to Zamunda, Akeem journeys back to NY with his royal confidante/sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall). Realizing the riches they might inherit, Lavelle does travel to Zamunda with his mom & Uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan) to learns the ways of being a prince, including that arranged marriage with Gen. Izzi's daughter, Bopoto. But with Lavelle more interested in his royal groomer, Mirembe (Nomzamo Mbatha), it's uncertain whether the wedding will take place ... and if Izzi will take it as an insult. Hijinks ensue.
It's all about the writing here, folks. Though it is great to see these characters again, the story & jokes are simply not very good. In 1988, 'CtA' was fresh, funny & original. Having 30+ yrs. to hone a special script, this film, instead, feels like a pointless, tired retread. Comedies today are a different breed than what they were 30 yrs. ago. - when smart, cohesive comedic scenarios & dialogue outweighed 'meta' inside jokes & cheeky one-liners that only a portion of an audience might even 'get'. Worst of ALL, this movie just isn't very funny. Sure, it passes the time & it is highly watchable. But how do you NOT make a Coming to America sequel funny!? It did not make me laugh, and that. is. egregious. I realize how difficult it is to write a humorous script {it's why comedies are my least favorite genre - if you can't make me laugh during a 'comedy', there is an inherent failure there}. Occasional one-liners hit, but almost everything felt warmed over & clunky.
In the 1988 film, Murphy & Hall looked to be having a blast playing Akeem & Semmi, members of the My-T-Sharp barbershop crew, Rev. Brown, Randy Watson & his band Sexual Chocolate -- it was all fun ... and funny. But to me, they - with exception to Wesley Snipes & Leslie Jones {her brand of comedy hits & misses} - look like they're just going through the motions. Murphy is almost a supporting character - allowing Jermaine Fowler {who I like} to take the Zamunda/Queens fish-out-of-water reigns. Even when Murphy re-plays Randy Watson & sings "We Are Family" near the end, all that did was remind me of the ending of 1996's Birdcage when the same song was sung; an INFINITELY better comedy. Best of the bunch is scene-stealer Wesley Snipes as off-the-wall tyrant. There is a litany of indulgent cameos {SNL, musicians}, but most of them fall flat like the rest of the film.
I must commend the make-up work employed to create those old characters that we loved so. I also commend the ornate Zamunda sets & Academy Award-winner Ruth E. Carter's lavish costumes -- they wow. But aside from the spectacle, there is little else to praise, here. This is a film without an edge & without a spark -- what's up with that!? Missing is the je ne sais quoi magic of the original. Missing are any hysterical new characters or loveable characterizations to remember. Sure, there's nothing truly awful about it. I mention its easy watchability above. And there are some emotional themes about family & ethnicity. But the whole movie just coasts on nostalgia. And I wanted more. As is, it is thoroughly average.