MOVIE REVIEWS

Review: ‘Coming 2 America’ Bets On Nostalgia To Win Audiences Over

Mar 5, 2021, 5:29 AM | Updated: Jun 11, 2021, 7:19 am

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Back in the mid-to-late ’80s, Eddie Murphy ruled at the box office. One of his biggest hits was “Coming to America,” the comedy about a fictional young African prince who rejects his arranged marriage to instead seek his bride in Queens, New York.

Now, three decades later, Murphy returns to the role of Prince Akeem in “Coming 2 America” (see what they did there?) and he’s back with all the characters he played in the first movie – and I mean all of them!

In this film, Akeem is set to become King of Zamunda. He’s still married to his wife Lisa, and together they have three strong, talented and lovely daughters.  But the law of Zamunda states that only a male may become ruler. So when Akeem learns he may have a son he never knew about back in America, that son may just be the rightful heir to the throne.

As a result, Akeem decides to go to New York once again to meet the boy and perhaps convince him to come to Africa.

I’ll admit that I was really looking forward to seeing this film, as I found the original “Coming to America” to be hilarious and a great showcase of Murphy’s and Arsenio Hall’s comedic talent.  Hall is back in this film as Semmi, and it was great to also see James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and almost every background character you remember from the original film.

It also introduces a new group of characters, including Akeem’s possible son Lavelle (played by Jermaine Fowler) and Saturday Night Live alumni Tracy Morgan and Leslie Jones as Lavelle’s uncle and mother.

While the new characters held their own, the highlight of the movie was no doubt Murphy and Hall reprising their multitude of characters. ALL of them – the barbershop guys, the preacher, the lounge singer, and even a couple of new characters played by the two men.

It was certainly a big wave of nostalgia, but nostalgia is a large part of the reason you’re probably watching this in the first place!

The story wasn’t very original. In fact, it was kind of a mirror, a harmony, or a rhyme of the story from the first “Coming to America” movie.  But I do think the writers (including Kenya Barris, the creator of the TV show “Black-ish”) got it mostly right, even though they walked a fin line between 1980s sensibilities and where we are today in terms of how gender roles and character are represented in media.

Each of the main characters had moments that were true to their nature, but they also had a chance to grow and progress in their attitudes and actions.

As far as warnings, “Coming 2 America” is rated PG-13 for language and adult sexual jokes, but it’s toned down from the F-words and nudity that gave the first movie its R rating.  The run time is 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The movie’s biggest strength is also potentially its biggest weakness:  Fans of the original movie will like this sequel best.  I’m not sure if you don’t already like 1988’s “Coming to America” that you’ll enjoy 2021’s “Coming 2 America,” because familiarity with the first movie greatly enhances the enjoyment of the second one.

If you’ve never seen the first movie, some of the second movie’s humor will seem like inside jokes that you’re not part of.  But watching the first film right before the second one, you’ll see that the first is funnier and more original and the second will likely suffer by comparison.

As for me, I laughed a bunch. I don’t think “Coming 2 America” is destined to be a classic, nor is it better than the original movie. But I loved the nostalgia that came along with re-visiting these characters after all these years.

It’s a great movie to watch with someone else who shares your sense of humor, whether that be your significant other, siblings or friends.  You’ll enjoy it far more that way than watching it alone.

I give “Coming 2 America” 2½ out of 4 stars.  As for where to watch it, it is not being released to theaters. It is an Amazon Prime exclusive, meaning you have to be subscribed to Amazon Prime, which costs $8.99 a month for streaming video only, or $12.99 a month for streaming video and free 2-day shipping on most Amazon.com orders.

KSL 5 TV Live

Movie Reviews

The cast and crew of “Freaky Tales” is remembering working with late actor Angus Cloud in one o...

Marianne Garvey, CNN

Angus Cloud remembered at Sundance by cast and crew of one of his final films

The cast and crew of “Freaky Tales” is remembering working with late actor Angus Cloud in one of his final roles.

2 months ago

Timothée Chalamet appears as Willy Wonka and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa in "Wonka." (Jaap Buitt...

Eva Rothenberg, CNN

‘Wonka’ hits the sweet spot, tops box office on opening weekend

“Wonka,” the whimsical origin story of the fictional chocolatier, secured the top spot in domestic theaters this weekend with an estimated $39 million in sales.

3 months ago

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling, left, and Margot Robbie in a scene...

Associated Press

The ‘Barbie’ bonanza continues at the box office, ‘Oppenheimer’ holds the No. 2 spot

“Barbie” leads the box office over “Oppenheimer" by over 40 million dollars.

8 months ago

Roger Gonzalez and Gaby Camacho, interview Sophia Lillis (C), at the Mexico City premiere of Paramo...

Jake Coyle

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ opens with $38.5M, takes down John Wick

Riding terrific reviews and a strong word-of-mouth, the role playing game adaptation "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" opened with $38.5 million in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters over the weekend.

1 year ago

This image released by Universal Pictures shows a scene from "Cocaine Bear," directed by Elizabeth ...

Associated Press

‘Cocaine Bear’ gets high with $23.1M, ‘Ant-Man’ sinks fast

The gonzo R-rated horror comedy “Cocaine Bear" sniffed up $23.1 million in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, while Marvel's “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” was quickly dwarfed in its second weekend.

1 year ago

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh poses for an official portrait at the...

Lindsey Bahr

Sundance doc looks into Brett Kavanaugh investigation

A new documentary looks into the sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Review: ‘Coming 2 America’ Bets On Nostalgia To Win Audiences Over