coming 2 america review
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I was truly excited about the potential for Eddie Murphy’s triumphant return to the iconic Akeem character. I’d prefer to be reporting back to you about how the film recaptures the magic of the 1988 original while updating it just enough to satisfy current generations of movie-watchers (remember when we used to say movie-goers?). Instead, we get Eddie Murphy playing the straight man to an admittedly hilarious Wesley Snipes, a grating Leslie Jones, shallow melodrama and obnoxious product placement. Who asked for this? The movie is fun, incorporates catchy music and it’s obvious the cast are enjoying themselves. But this is supposed to be the sequel to one the greatest hard R comedies of all time. The handful of funny moments belong almost exclusively to characters other than Prince Akeem. Overall, it’s a poorly structured Saturday Night Live sketch with precious little in common with the original. Is it worth a watch? Absolutely. Who's going to NOT watch the Coming to America sequel? But the magic of the original is utterly missing. Perhaps like me you’ll find a kernel of solace in the low-stakes decision to watch a film included with Amazon Prime. That being said, anyone comparing this film favorably to the original is lying to you. You’ll find a handful of smile-inducing moments on the strength of pure nostalgia but otherwise there isn’t much on which to base a recommendation.
Coming 2 America receives a score of 5/10 for general audiences. Its similarities to the original are superficial. Don’t go in expecting a return to past glory.