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'Coming 2 America' Has All the Fun Nostalgia You Could Ever Want in a Movie
History has a way of repeating itself. In the case of Coming 2 America, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, that’s a very good thing. Reuniting Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, the sequel to the 1988 comedy classic packs a hilarious punch with the same ridiculousness, laughs, and characters as the original.
It’s been more than three decades since Murphy, in his role as Prince Akeem and Hall as his faithful sidekick Semmi, ventured to Queens, New York in search of the prince’s own queen. But the chemistry on-screen emits a nostalgic feel that gives fans of the former film a giddy sensation while further cementing this duo’s relationship in Hollywood history.
Sequels are always a challenge, but the acclaim of Coming To America, and the time in between the original and its reboot, presents a greater hurdle to its success. The team behind the now-streaming flick evidently knew this, casting fresh faces to continue the comedic story so many fell in love with the first time around.
“From the time of getting the idea and then all the different versions of the script it was maybe five years,” Murphy told Glamour of the journey to the follow-up film. “I knew that we had a solid script and a great idea. So I was optimistic when we started that it would be a good movie.”
This time around, Prince Akeem is not on a mission to find the love of his life—he’s still happily married to Lisa (Shari Headley). But he is faced with a new challenge: finding his footing as a new leader after King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) “relinquishes” his title during a rendition of Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train To Georgia.” In the process of defining himself as the newly installed King of Zamunda, Akeem’s past meets his present, introducing us to his long lost son and prince in-waiting, Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler).
Coming 2 America doesn’t just follow Akeem and Lavelle’s struggles to carve out their own space, however; we also get to see his eldest daughter Meeka fight for her positioning among the royal kingdom. It is here where the film steps from 1988 into the newest century, reflecting a time when women continue to prove their abilities to lead among a sea of men. Though Zamunda is still very much a kingdom that prides itself on history and tradition, there is a shift happening with the newest generation of royals.
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Lavelle, the son born from a one-night-stand Prince Akeem had with Mary (Leslie Jones) makes a decision that best suits him as it pertains to his role in Zamunda and the woman he wants to share his life with. Meeka, much like her brother, displays in both might and wisdom that she is more than capable of deciding her best path forward, as well as the kingdom’s when the time comes. The film is not without its exploitation of patriarchal customs (would it be a sequel if they were absent?), but there is a good mix of old thinking with new ideas, a connection the two films have in common.
“This movie lives up to whatever expectations you have. You want it to be good, you want it to be as good as the first picture. You don’t want it to be, oh why did they do that?” Murphy shared. “This movie is not a 'why did they do that.’ This movie is, wow, this is a really cool continuation of that story.”
One of the coolest aspects of Coming 2 America is its star-studded cast and cameos. Teyana Taylor, Rotimi, Tracy Morgan, Garcelle Beauvais, Salt-N-Pepa, Gladys Knight, Davido, are just a few names among the lengthy credits. Add to that a scene-stealing Wesley Snipes and the strikingly beautiful Nomzamo Mbatha and the film has one of the most robust Black casts in the last decade. If you’re seeking nostalgia and want a few good laughs, this sequel satisfies that craving.
Tanya Christian is a writer and editor based in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @tanyaachristian.
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Tanya Christian
