22 Jump Street. That’s it. That’s the one comedy sequel that’s better than the original film. Are Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall able to capture the magic that only Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have done with their comedy sequel? Unfortunately, Coming 2 America would be one of the movies Tatum and Hill would openly mock in their sequel skewering sequel. But hey, if it’s not that great, at least there’s parties to be had!
Back in Zamunda, after happily marrying the love of his life Lisa (Shari Headley), soon to be King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) has taken control over his home country of Zamunda. Even though he has 3 willing and capable daughters (Kiki Layne, Bella Murphy, and Akiley Love), the laws of Zamunda dictate that a male heir must rule the country. Good timing, I guess! Because Akeem’s buddy Semmi (Arsenio Hall) points out that Akeem has a son from a one night stand with a woman named Mary (Leslie Jones): Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler). With pressure from rival leader General Izzi (Wesley Snipes), Akeem goes back to the US to retrieve his son, and start prepping him for the throne.
After watching a truly great SNL appearance from Eddie Murphy last year, I had hoped the talented comedian learned from that time to mix up his jokes and update them for our current time and place. Alas, it is not to be. I’d say 70% of the jokes here are call backs to material from the first film. Remember the bathing routine? Wouldn’t it be funny if Leslie Jones did it? Remember the amazing wedding ceremony? The 2nd must be amazinger right? There’s a certain amount of call backs that a sequel can use as a great capper to a punch line. However, Coming 2 America uses so many that the movie feels like the crappy, blander remix of the first film, with NONE of the bite or inspiration that made Coming To America so wonderful. The other big pitfall this movie falls into is sequel character deevolution: instead of having characters learn what they did from the previous film, they just fall back into old patterns of behavior. Akeem spent all that time trying to find a life of his own in the first movie; in this one, he spends almost all of his time preventing others from doing the same thing, and disregarding the Lisa, whom he married because he valued her thoughts. Bummer.
That’s not to say there isn’t anything worthwhile here. New blood always makes comedies better if at least to add a new wrinkle. Jermaine Fowler is also solid juggling the comedy/drama of the film, asked to do a lot and mostly holding his own. Kiki Layne exudes badassery and regal elegance as Akeem’s eldest daughter. Leslie Jones, Wesley Snipes and Tracy Morgan are three of the funniest people on the planet, so simply letting them hang out will lead to at least a few chuckles. Every scene Jones is in she’s cooking and everyone gets out of her way, probably to laugh offscreen. Plus, the movie skates by via throwing parties every half hour or so. I guess the high end African countries share information with one another, because Wakandan designer extraordinaire Ruth E. Carter also ornately shows off Zamunda’s high society with amazing dresses and tuxes. Normally if the costume designer is the winner of a comedy, you failed (partly true), but Carter’s efforts make each new gathering exciting and gorgeous (100% true).
When in doubt, have a wedding, or party in your movie. It works every time. Coming 2 America would have been boring pointless garbage netting Eddie Murphy millions were it not for those glorious hangouts. Who knows? Maybe you can grab the triple threat of En Vogue, Salt N Pepa, and Sexual Chocolate like Coming 2 America pulled off. Producers of the world, when it comes to movie parties, I’d encourage you to, as Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella would say, to push it real good!