Coming 2 America

COMING 2 AMERICA, released last Friday on the Amazon streaming service, has confirmed that Eddie Murphy should stop with the sequels already.  I've yet to see one that even approaches equalling its predecessor.  Cases in point: ANOTHER 48 HRS. and the BEVERLY HILLS COP follow ups.  They all fizzled.  Now the actor/comedian dares to update one of his most beloved movies, to show the happily ever after of Prince Akeem of Zamunda and his bride Lisa, who he met and wooed in Queens, N.Y. as he was not content with the arranged marriage planned by his father King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) back home.  1988's COMING TO AMERICA was a sweet, funny, cute movie with a little bit of edge, deftly realized by director John Landis.  He does not return for this sequel, unsurprising given his longstanding pariah status in Tinseltown and stormy relationship with Murphy. 

In the hot seat this time is Craig Brewer, hoping for lightning to strike twice.  On two counts.  Brewer worked with Murphy last year on DOLEMITE IS MY NAME and the results were quite favorable.  But, sorry guys, COMING 2 AMERICA is a near complete failure.  It is clear almost immediately that everyone involved, including returning writers David Sheffield and Barry Blaustein, felt the movie could coast on its characters' likeability and familiarity alone.  Selling nostalgia, as many latter day updates aspire.  Merely rehashing the same story, albeit in the age of "woke."   Regarding the latter, the film has its heart in the right place, but is defeated by all around lazy filmmaking and a script that is unfocused, at best.

Over thirty years have passed since Akeem and Lisa tied the knot and settled into life in Zamunda.  They have since had three daughters...and no son.  Bad news as Zamundan law states that the heir to the throne must be a male.  Centuries old tradition, ripe for subversion?  This will be a theme throughout the film.   But wait, it turns out Akeem does have a son.   Is the mother one of those women who bathes, and er, attends to the royal subjects (fodder for many jokes in both movies)?  Rather, it turns out to be an outspoken woman named Mary (Leslie Jones), who apparently date raped the young prince after he and his loyal sidekick Semmi (Arsenio Hall) came back from an inebriated night of clubbing.  This sequence is realized via some of the current de-aging technology, which isn't bad.  The same cannot be said of this film's CGI shots of the city of Zamunda.

Following King Jaffe's funeral, mostly held while he's still alive, Akeem and Semmi return to the borough of Queens to meet Mary's offspring, Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler), a young man trying to get a legit job but always ending up back in front of Madison Square Garden scalping tickets.  He and his mother soon finds themselves in a luxury palace beyond their comprehension.  A life of privilege.  Heir to a kingdom.  But is it the life he desires? Didn't his father reject all the trappings to find True Love back in the day?

Along for this new movie is Murphy's DOLEMITE co-star Wesley Snipes, dictator of neighboring country Nextdoria (tee hee).  He threatens a hostile militaristic takeover unless Akeem produces the male heir, or allows his eldest daughter to marry his dolt of a son.   Snipes gives the most lively performance by a mile, the only cast member who doesn't look uncomfortable.   That's another problem with COMING 2 AMERICA.  Everyone is stiff. Consequently, very little is funny.  If not for the return of the those My-T-Sharp barbershop characters we all know and love (played by Murphy and Hall), there might almost be complete silence from viewers.

Brewer does manage a decent pace despite many leaden scenes.  Sorry, but these new characters are just not interesting.   And said unfocused script can't decide whose story it really wants to tell.  The best scene for me was one of nostalgia throwbacks, which otherwise run hot and cold.  Akeem grabs a mop to clean the kitchen of a McDowell's franchise in Zamunda while he ponders his troubles.  Cleo McDowell (yes, John Amos is back) gives him an inspirational talk.   The movie needed more of this, and, um, laughs. The gags, such as they are, are just lame.  Too often this movie is like watching a comedian die on stage.   Eddie, please reconsider going forward with BEVERLY HILLS COP IV.  Pretty please?

P.S. - But those costumes! Ruth E. Carter really outdid herself on this movie.  The train of one particular dress was nothing short of awe inspiring. 

P.P.S - As in the original COMING TO AMERICA, there's a reference to another beloved Murphy movie, TRADING PLACES.  Don't get any other ideas, Eddie.