5 Things I Hate About Coming 2 America (And 5 Things I Love About It)
The sequel brings a full dose of nostalgia to make us remember why we love the original so much.
It is finally here. 32 years after the release of the classic comedy movie ‘Coming To America’, the sequel is out.
I watched it yesterday night and here are my honest thoughts about ‘Coming 2 America’.
5 Things I Love About Coming 2 America
Nostalgia. It was like seeing old friends again after a long time. And I’m not talking about just the main characters - Prince Akeem and Semi. I was particularly happy to see the minor characters that gave the original movie so much flavour show up again. The old men at the barbershop (with their dark humour), King Jaffe Joffer, Randy Watson, Prince Akeem’s betrothed (who is still barking after all these years) and so many others hit us with a good dose of nostalgia.
Wesley Snipes stole the scene. Credit - Amazon Studios Wesley Snipes steals the show in Coming 2 America. His performance as the villain GeneraI Izzi is one of the strong highlights in the sequel. It’s great to see Wesley Snipes being given a shot to make a comeback after his tax troubles knocked him off from the top of the Hollywood industry years ago. Snipes and Murphy have proven that their chemistry in ‘Dolemite’ was not a fluke.
The duo still has it. Credit - Amazon Studios The chemistry between Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall still exists. It might not be as smooth as it is in the original but during their scenes the comedic pair turns back the hands of time to pay homage to the original flick.
If there is ever going to be a Wakanda, Zamunda crossover, King Akeem’s daughter would be in the Dora Milaje. Credit - Amazon Studios This sequel seeks to keep up with the times especially with the topic of giving women the opportunity to be in leadership roles.
Of course Davido. It would be almost impossible for any Nigerian not to swell with pride when Davido performs ‘Assurance’ towards the end of this movie. It’s a great moment for the contemporary music scene here in Nigeria.
5 Things I Hate About Coming 2 America
The second act of Coming 2 America is a bore fest thanks to cheap slapstick comedy. The movie dives when Lavelle Junson and his African-American posse step into Zamunda with their ghetto fabulous behaviour. It was disjointed and uncoordinated. Leslie Jones and Tracy Morgan could have done way better.
The magic between these two hardly show up in the sequel. Credit - Amazon studios The relationship between King Akeem and Queen Lisa seemed very cold. I think the writers should have done better with the two lovers instead of the cheap scenes they gave us.
Rotimi would have nailed it as King Akeem’s son. Credit - Amazon Studios This is just my opinion but singer/actor Rotimi would have made a better prince than Jermaine Fowler. Sadly, he is relegated to a few scenes where he hardly says anything. It’s a waste of potential and we know Rotimi can act.
G.O.A.T Scene. Credit - Paramount Pictures They should have kept the ‘royal penis is clean your highness’ scene the way it was in the original. The twist in this sequel isn’t a home run.
There are no classic lines in the sequel which is okay. Coming To America is filled with so many quotables that it would have been hard for the sequel to match. I just wish the writers tried more to nail some scenes firmly.
Characters That Should Have Returned
Darryl Jenks- the Soul Glo prince should have been brought back. I would have loved to see where he is right now in 2021. He might have gone broke because no one does Jheri curls anymore.
Patrice McDowell could still be waiting for her Prince Charming. Credit: Paramount Pictures Lisa’s sister, Patrice McDowell should have appeared in the sequel too. I wonder if Lisa’s freaky sister would have married Darryl or ended up as a retired gold digger.
Wait…since Samuel L Jackson is Nick Fury in the MCU, he could have easily made the trip to Zamunda seeing that it shares the same border with Wakanda. Credit - Hollywood HipHop I know this would have been a far stretch but I was hoping to see Samuel L. Jackson in Coming 2 America reprise his role as an armed robber. His scene in the original is one of the best in the classic flick.
Trivia - Did you know that after the success of Coming To America in 1988, a TV series spin off was made featuring Prince Akeem’s brother? It was released in 1989 and Prince Akeem’s brother, Prince Tariq was sent to America to further his education. . The pilot sadly received bad reviews and it was never developed into a full show.
P.S - People should stop tripping about African actors not being in the movie. It’s calling acting for god sakes. If Daniel Kaluuya and Lupita Nyong’o can act as African-Americans then why can’t the reverse be the case?
Also, there was no way in the world this sequel was going to be better than the original. This movie even pokes fun at itself for trying to duplicate the success of the first film.
Coming 2 America is a good comedy movie with its faults. Just try and enjoy it for what it is.