Coming 2 America

Directed by Craig Brewer. 

2021. Rated PG-13, 110 minutes.

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Wesley Snipes, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, James Earl Jones, Kiki Layne, Tracy Morgan, Teyana Taylor, Bella Murphy, John Amos, Rotimi, Trevor Noah. 

   Sometimes a movie can do too much while simultaneously not doing nearly enough. The long awaited sequel to 1988's Coming to America is one such film. It's really long on nostalgia, just as long on random fan service, and short on the things that make a good movie. It's the cinematic equivalent of someone telling you what they think you want to hear when that's the worse thing they could possibly do. It starts with the very first frame and never relents. 

    We get a similar opening to the original, with Prince Akeem (Murphy) of Zamunda waking up in bed with Lisa (Headley), now his princess and still the love of his life. Shortly, we find out they have three daughters and that his dad, King Jaffe Jaffer (Jones) is on his deathbed. The issue here isn't really that the king is about to die, but that Akeem is about to ascend to the throne without a male heir of his own. Ever forward thinking, this is initially of no bother to him, particularly since his eldest daughter Meeka (Layne) has already proven herself capable. However, Zamundan law dictates that women cannot rule the country. Knowing this, King Jaffe predicts that shortly after his own passing, Akeem will be assassinated and the crown taken by long-time rival General Izzi (Snipes) of Nexdoria. Just so we know this is all personal for Izzi, we find out that he is the brother of Imani (Calloway),  the woman Akeem was supposed to marry in the original movie. There may be hope because Akeem's lifelong companion, and once travel partner to America, Semmi (Hall), gives us the reason for the prince to return to the states. He lets us know that something happened during that first trip we weren't privy to. It seems the prince was drugged and raped by Mary (Jones), played for laughs of course, the result of which was Lavell (Fowler), his now grown and down on his luck son. Akeem decides to go get the boy and bring him to Zamunda to be the male heir he desperately needs.

    Though predictable, that premise is one that could've been taken in some interesting directions while exploring some fun, new characters. Instead, it plays like the subplot to this film's real purpose, congratulating everyone involved in the original for making an iconic film thirty years ago. Nearly every character from its predecessor is dragged back onto the screen, whether it makes sense or not. Nothing particularly interesting happens with them, either. They're there because the powers that be knows we want to see them. Old dudes in the barbershop arguing over boxing worked so well in the first movie, they do it again, here. You want another song by Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate? Got it. How about another crazy tune from Oha (Bates)? Done. Reverend Brown cracked you up before? Here he is. Just to keep up with all the callbacks once the movie shifts back to Zamunda, Mr. McDowell (Amos) has opened up a restaurant in the African nation, complete with Maurice (Louie Anderson) in tow. None of it has any bearing whatsoever on the plot. This means, over and over, everything grinds to a halt so the film can check another box on its list of cool things from the first movie. Then it stops again whenever someone enters a room to see Akeem because the film insists on them being formally introduced every...single...time.

    Sigh. 

    When the movie focuses on the problem at hand is when it's at its best. Wesley Snipes proves to be a hilarious antagonist. He's going full-camp every single moment he's on the screen, so I wouldn't disagree with you if you thought he was just doing too much. His enthusiasm is contagious. He's clearly having a blast, so we're doing the same whenever we see him. Unfortunately, his ultimate is far too easy. However, this seems due to the fact that so much time was already wasted on nostalgia. Things had to be wrapped up succinctly. Shari Headley is another bright spot, combining with Leslie Jones to give us one of the movie's best scenes. The royal daughters are all wonderful, particularly Kiki Layne as the eldest. Eddie Murphy's real life daughter Bella, shines as Akeem's middle daughter. Given the story's trajectory, seeing much more of them is warranted, but I am grateful for what we got. 

    Not everyone new to this universe fares so well. Despite the aforementioned scene with Headley, Leslie Jones's work is regrettable. It's mostly because it's the same overly thirsty shtick she's been doing for years and has grown tiresome. As the royal lovechild, Jermaine Fowler isn't nearly as grating, but he's a plain slice of bread and simply drowns in this sea of big personalities. James Earl Jones is one of those, but he's a bit too unhinged, here. His performance is really missing the calming influence of Madge Sinclair (R.I.P.) as his queen. 

    In all honesty, the entire film seems to be missing some sort of grounding mechanism. Whenever things fly off the rail in the first movie, something happens to bring us back to some semblance in reality. Here, we just get more nuttiness, and not in a good way. If it's not yet another reference to its predecessor, it's pure randomness. Raise your hand if you had Gladys Knight and the Pips popping up to parody their own biggest hit by singing "Midnight Train From Zamunda." Could that be funny? Sure. Is it, though? No. And she's not even involved in the no-holds-barred concert that closes the film and takes things to a whole new, cringe worthy level. I suppose this is fitting, given the mess that is Coming 2 America. It just doesn't work, nor does it try to.