Coming 2 America Review: A Hilarious Return For King Akeem

Release date: March 5, 2020
Running time: 106 minutes
Starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, with Wesley Snipes and James Earl Jones. Also starring John Amos, Teyana Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Paul Bates, Nomzamo Mbatha, Bella Murphy
Directed by Craig Brewer
Screenplay by Kenya Barris and Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began. Original cast favorites from Coming to America return including King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), Queen Lisa (Shari Headley), Cleo McDowell (John Amos), Maurice (Louie Anderson) and the motley barbershop crew. Joining this star-studded ensemble are Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Jermaine Fowler, Bella Murphy, Rotimi, KiKi Layne, Nomzamo Mbatha and Teyana Taylor, making Coming 2 America the most anticipated comedy film of the year.

Coming 2 America has Eddie Murphy reprising his role, yet updates the story, scenarios, and references to a more modern era.  Eddie Murphy perfectly jumps back in as king, but now has to contend with his future and the clash of traditional practices with more modern sensibilities.  He is joined on this journey by some old stalwarts from the first movie and some new additions that feel right at home.  There are enough returning cast members to make this feel like a real sequel, and the new characters definitely change the trajectory of the film.  Leslie Jones and Jermaine Fowler are fun additions, as is Wesley Snipes who takes on a new, ridiculous character that made me laugh every time.  And although the humor in the sequel feels more scattershot, it is still very funny.  Eddie Murphy is hilarious, but the comedy burden is shared among many of the individuals.   Leslie Jones and Jermaine Fowler are both refreshing and funny as new members of the Zamunda royal family.  And there is plenty of ridiculousness in the film that is not explained but very funny.  The competing nation has a drumline vibe that made me laugh every time I saw it.  And there are so many wonderful cameos and call backs to other films that you will be laughing at the sheer randomness of it all. 

The movie deals with traditions versus modern trends, and tries to use levity to seed some modern societal trends.  And it brings back a lot of characters from the previous films to reprise their roles, as well as a lot of cameos.  It feels like an older style movie, one that we don't get as often.  But Coming 2 America also has updates that drag it into the modern era.  The Zamunda have a vibrant, stereotypical African feel, although with much more silliness infused.  But it still feels like the movie, despite its comedic focus, did take some care in constructing this fictional African country.  However, in confronting these modern trends the movie also feels like it could have done more.  The movie feels like a spectacle, but also one that tried to go bigger in every respect.  It leads to lots of hilarity and some wonderful cameos, but feels a little overproduced compared to its classic source material.  And in order to create the central conflict, Eddie Murphy's character has a new, uncharacteristic circumstance to set it up.  And while confronting this conflict, he also goes through some convenient personality changes to fit the new conflict that just feel out of place.  Overall it feels like this sequel did not need to be made, but it was a hilarious journey and fun to see all these characters reprise their roles.

Coming 2 America sees a return to Zamunda with a lot of the same cast from the Eddie Murphy classic along with new characters, cameos, and some modern updates.   

Rent it.

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Coming 2 America is available on Amazon Prime Video on March 5, 2020.