Coming 2 America
Like a pleasant reunion with long-lost friends, Coming 2 America recalls much of the good times associated with Coming to America and manages only a few uncomfortable, rusty moments caused by the time away.
Capitalizing on the comedic magic he and Eddie Murphy created during Dolemite Is My Name, director Craig Brewer helps continue his star’s long-awaited resurgence, this time in one of his most iconic roles as Akeem, prince of Zamunda.
Coming to America screenwriters David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein team with Kenya Barris (Girls Trip) to cook up a decent enough plot that forces Akeem and his faithful aid Semmi (Arsenio Hall) back to Queens to locate the former’s conveniently newly discovered bastard son Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler, Sorry to Bother You) and bring him back to Africa.
In turn, Zamunda’s longstanding legal tradition of having a male heir is secured and war with General Izzi (a hilarious Wesley Snipes, likewise enjoying a recent renaissance) is averted, omitting Akeem’s committed and capable daughter Meeka (KiKi Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk) in the name of casually accepted sexism.
It doesn’t take a barbershop full of boxing scholars — all of whom return and again steal each scene — to figure out what will happen, but the wealth of contemporary humor and an array of fun callbacks to the original film more than compensate for the predictable setup and occasional rushed plotting.
Scenes in Queens with the Junson family — especially Lavelle’s mother Mary (Leslie Jones) and Uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan) — and their wide-eyed adaptation to the regal lifestyle are particularly funny, as are their encounters with a handful of smile-inducing celebrity cameos, including a certain Fairview resident.
But ultimately, Coming 2 America belongs to Murphy and Hall and the memorable characters they created 30-plus years ago, who impressively remain nearly as gut-bustingly zany the second time around.
Grade: B-plus. Rated PG-13. Available to stream via Amazon Prime Video
(Photo: Paramount Pictures)
Blu-ray bonus features
Commentary by director Craig Brewer
From Queens to Zumunda
Trailer gallery
