Eddie Murphy got his live cinematic, comedic groove back recently with director Craig Brewer with the excellent biopic DOLEMITE IS MY NAME, which chronicled the real-life exploits of actor Rudy Ray Moore and his surprise independent hit DOLEMITE.
Murphy has recruited Brewer again for one of the most eagerly-anticipated sequels of recent years, COMING 2 AMERICA, which follows up the events of Murphy’s 1988 blockbuster COMING TO AMERICA, in which he played Prince Akeem, a troubled heir to the fictional African country of Zamunda, who decides against marrying the woman chosen by his father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) and flies to Queens, New York, where he connects with Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley) and falls in love.
Three decades-plus later, things appear to be in sync as before, with Akeem (a father of three gutsy daughters) the heir apparent to Joffer’s kingdom and clearly Jaffe’s death is imminent. Problems appear to have emerged, with a leader of a rival kingdom, General Izzy (Wesley Snipes) resentful of the fact that Akeem passed over his daughter from the opening of the original film (you remember, the one he asked to stand on one foot and bark like a dog!) and plays a scaremonger card knowing that Akeem didn’t father a son.
The trouble is, Akeem’s confidante, Semmi (Arsenio Hall) had actually got Akeem into a bit of bother during their desire to get hooked up with the idea woman whilst in a bar in Queens. Enter Mary Junson (Leslie Jones, GHOSTBUSTERS remake) and Akeem’s illegitimate son, Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler). Inevitably, taking Lavelle back to Zamunda is clearly going to complicate matters, not least in Akeem’s relationship with soul-mate Lisa….
Passable and guaranteed-a-smile-or-two sequel to the 1988 film, albeit a little repetitive in content, but then again, since when did any sequel never repeat itself. The barber shop regulars (played in disguise by Hall and Murphy) are back, plus one or two other sideline characters. Jones makes the most of his brief appearance passing on the legacy and Headley makes a good return as Lisa, matching Murphy.
COMING 2 AMERICA is out now on Amazon Prime.
