Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Murphy still rules in hilarious but suggestive sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Coming 2 America
What's the Story?
COMING 2 AMERICA revisits Akeem (Eddie Murphy)—the main character of Coming to America—as he becomes the king of Zamunda, an African paradise. Now the father of three daughters, he's bound by Zamundan law to have a male heir to the throne. When Akeem learns that he has a 31-year-old son, he and his loyal adviser, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), return to Queens to meet his firstborn and introduce him to his birthright. The question is, will he live up to his father's expectations? The all-star cast includes Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Jermaine Fowler, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones, Colin Jost, and Louie Anderson.
Is It Any Good?
A few more wrinkles may crease their faces, but Akeem and Semmi haven't lost a single step in this laugh-out-loud sequel. Coming 2 America is nicely paced and gorgeous to look at, and revisits many of the characters that fans of the original longed to see again. That said, the comedy still centers on some problematic jokes—most notably, a character becomes a victim of date rape and it's played for laughs, and women appear willing to do anything for the men around them. Still, the story overall is fresh and punchy. It meets, and even exceeds, the pageantry and creativity of the original's colorful clothing, which is no surprise given that Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter is at the helm this time around.
The reteaming of Murphy and Hall is absolutely delightful—especially the winks to Murphy's other iconic roles. And the new characters in Coming 2 America are equally dynamite. In the latter part of his career, Murphy and director Craig Brewer's Dolemite Is My Name cast mate Wesley Snipes proves his range to be wickedly masterful. As General Izzi of Nexdoria, he's believably villainous while remaining hilarious. Hall hasn't lost his touch, either; he's unrecognizable as a new character: Baba, a wise shaman who's taken aback by the nonsense surrounding him. Murphy pulls in actors from the SNL roster to fill out the talented cast, and Fowler tags in as Akeem's opportunistic American son. Together, they make up a worthy sequel to an iconic movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Coming to America is viewed as a landmark film, particularly in the history of Black-centered cinema. Do you think this sequel lives up to that legacy?
Why are positive media representations of underrepresented groups important?
The original movie was a "fish out of water" story, with two people from outside the United States observing (and thus satirizing) New York City culture. How does the sequel tell a fish out of water story, too?
How do elements like costumes, production design, dance, and even hair and makeup work together to create the movie's fictional nation?
One of Murphy's comical characters is a White Jewish man. What is the cultural context for Murphy, a Black man, wearing White makeup and portraying a White man? What is the cultural context for a Black man portraying a Jewish man?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 5, 2021
- Cast : Eddie Murphy , Arsenio Hall , Jermaine Fowler
- Director : Craig Brewer
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Amazon Prime
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude and sexual content, language and drug content
- Awards : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : November 5, 2024
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