A sequel to the 1988 film, Coming 2 America stars Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Wesley Snipes, and James Earl Jones. The first part showed us the heartfelt love story of Prince Akeen Joffer (Murphy) who is now a king and Queen Lisa (Shari). So is the second part, directed by Craig Brewer, as good as its predecessor? Keep reading…
In Amazon Prime Original’s Coming 2 America, the story takes places years after Akeen and Lisa are married. The King and Queen have three daughters – Princess Meeka (KiKu Layne), Princess Omma Joffer (Bella Murphy) and the youngest Princess Tinashe Joffer (Akiley Love). As King Akeen’s father King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) is on his deathbed, he tells his son Akeen that Zamunda’s throne is in danger from General Izzi (Wesley Snipes).
King Akeen has no son, only three daughters. However, as per the Zamundan tradition, only the son can be the heir and claim the throne after his father. Well, Akeen’s friend and aide Semmi (Arsenio Hall) comes to the rescue at this point. He tells the King that decades ago when they came to America to find true love, he slept with someone. The woman got pregnant and has a son who can be the rightful heir to the throne.
Without giving any second thoughts, King Akeen heads to Queens in search of his illegitimate son, Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler). But Akeen’s eldest daughter who has worked hard and trained herself in every way to be the Queen of Zamunda is not pleased with some random brother coming out of nowhere to claim the throne. Coming 2 America is about the drama that unfolds as Akeen’s illegitimate son comes in the picture and all the tricks pulled off by General Izzi.
I’ll say it without twisting much – Coming 2 America is a decent watch. However, I still don’t know the purpose of the film. It shows us how King Akeen’s son Lavelle makes himself capable of claiming the throne only after getting lured with the lavish life and wealth that comes with it. On the other hand, his daughter Princess Meeka is capable in every way to be the Queen. Akeen’s wife Lisa also reminds him of their daughter’s wish to claim the throne. But he dismisses her by saying – that’s not Zamunda tradition.
This conversation comes up several times throughout the film. I thought in a major way, King Akeen will break the patriarchal tradition, no matter how old it is. But at the end of the film, he whispers in his daughter’s ears that after he dies, she will be the Queen. Are we supposed to believe that will happen? Especially after Lavelle has now inherited the throne? I wish writers Kenya Barris, Barry W Balustein and David Sheffield would have thought through it.
Coming 2 America: Is it worth it?
Other than that, Coming 2 America is a visual treat at times, has good music and is a bit funny. We have seen Africans getting stereotyped as poor and shabby in so many movies and shows. Well, the Eddie Murphy-starrer is here to tell you that it’s not true. Africans are insanely rich too and live a grand life which the stereotypical movies don’t often show.
To sum it up, Coming 2 America has some good jokes if not great. The storyline is a bit disappointing with how it ends. The whisper, in the end, isn’t impactful enough. The performances are amazing. But do not have any high expectations – it’s just your lighthearted popcorn muncher.
Coming 2 America is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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