Film Snail

6.4

Coming 2 America

PG-13·2021·110m

Comedy

Summary

Prince Akeem Joffer is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America – a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his royal father's dying wish to groom this son as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi set off to America once again.

Cast

Eddie Murphy

Prince Akeem / Clarence / Saul / Randy Watson

Arsenio Hall

Semmi / Morris / Reverend Brown / Baba

Jermaine Fowler

Lavelle Junson

Leslie Jones

Mary Junson

Tracy Morgan

Uncle Reem

KiKi Layne

Meeka

Shari Headley

Lisa

Wesley Snipes

General Izzi

James Earl Jones

King Jaffe Joffer

John Amos

Cleo McDowell

Teyana Taylor

Bopoto

Vanessa Bell Calloway

Imani Izzi

Paul Bates

Oha

Nomzamo Mbatha

Mirembe

Bella Murphy

Omma

Morgan Freeman

Akiley Love

Tinashe

Rotimi

Idi Izzi

Louie Anderson

Maurice

Trevor Noah

Totatsi Bibinyana

Michael Blackson

Nexdorian Lieutenant

Clint Smith

Sweets

Kevin T. DeWitt

Nice Man

Luenell

Livia

Rodney Perry

Cousin

Navv Greene

Cousin

Brittney Ivory Culbreath

Bathing Girl

Alise Willis

Bathing Girl

Quanice Kirkland

Bathing Girl

Terry Ellis

[En Vogue]

Rhona Bennett

[En Vogue]

Cindy Herron-Braggs

[En Vogue]

Cheryl 'Salt' James

Salt

Sandra 'Pepa' Denton

Pepa

Gladys Knight

David Lengel

Ride Share Driver

Rick Ross

Nexdorian Commander

Perry Zulu Jr.

Photographer

Garcelle Beauvais

Rose Bearer Priestess

Donny Savage

Manservant

Davido

Vanessa Colon

Fresh Peaches

Janette Colon

Sugar Cube

Dikembe Mutombo

Colin Jost

Mr. Duke

Rob Smith

Ride Share Passenger

John Legend

Princess Victoria Rouche

Choir Singer

LaKeta Booker

Choir Singer

Erica Dawson

Choir Singer

Sherie Murphy

Choir Singer

Sherita Murphy

Choir Singer

Amber Brianna Lawrence-Bullock

Choir Singer

Dionne Charisse Tyson

Choir Singer

Y'Anna Crawley

Choir Singer

Justin Chase

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Darren Wade

Izzi Soldier Dancer

LaMonte Ponder

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Zack Lee

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Elijah Oliver

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Xavier Durman

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Artrell Manning

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Quintrail Davis

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Xavier Joe Wilcher

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Gary Beauford

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Sayquon Keys

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Dontae Iverson

Izzi Soldier Dancer

Eddie Eskridge

Dancing Drummer

Christopher Z. Harris

Dancing Drummer

Bernard Bell

Dancing Drummer

Jihlanni Faust

Dancing Drummer

Antwon Keith Collier

Dancing Drummer

Walter Holloway III

Dancing Drummer

Peter Styles

Dancing Drummer

Ahsia Pettigrew

Get Off Dancer

Rachel Gladney

Get Off Dancer

Da'Nelle Garrett

Get Off Dancer

Timara Melchor

Get Off Dancer

Desi-Ray Morris

Get Off Dancer

Alannah Wilhite

Get Off Dancer

Marquita Washington

Get Off Dancer

Andranita Smith

Get Off Dancer

Jacoby Hutchins

Freestyle Dancer

Ayorinde Kemit

Freestyle Dancer

Rayana Richards

Freestyle Dancer

Akosua Akoto

Female African Dancer

Arata A. Maat

Female African Dancer

Cilva Timothy

Female African Dancer

Imania F. Detry

Female African Dancer

Kyaein O'Quinn Conner

Female African Dancer

Lindsay Renea Benton

Female African Dancer

Malaiyka Reid

Female African Dancer

Naderah Munajj

Female African Dancer

Natali Micciche

Female African Dancer

Christina Gerard-Sylla

Female African Dancer

Mi'Lynn Tomasini

Female African Dancer

Mekka Wilson

Female African Dancer

Asiel Hardison

Male African Dancer

Camaron Donnell Ballard

Male African Dancer

Reginald Johnson

Male African Dancer

Tourus Jerelds

Male African Dancer

DaeSun Cupid

Male African Dancer

Ibrahima Diouf

Male African Dancer

Bryce Farris

Male African Dancer

Simone Alston

Choir Dancer

Jonathan Bryant

Choir Dancer

Desiree Dixon

Choir Dancer

Jeremy Green

Choir Dancer

Ashanti Harris

Choir Dancer

Dacia James

Choir Dancer

Briahanna Kimbrough

Choir Dancer

Bryan Justin

Choir Dancer

Nefertiti Robinson

Choir Dancer

Skyler Semien

Choir Dancer

Kenneth Strong

Choir Dancer

Christian Taylor

Choir Dancer

Kara Jenelle

Choir Dancer

Averil Taylor

Conductor

Magatte Saw

Zamundan Drummer

Nigel Zuniga

Zamundan Drummer

Munir Richard

Zamundan Drummer

Kodey Kitchens

Zamundan Drummer

J.J. Harris-Smith

Zamundan Drummer

Narayana J. Hall

Zamundan Drummer

Reginald Frazier

Zamundan Drummer

Edward Williams

Trumpet

Ronald Hampton

Trumpet

Willie Jackson

French Horn

Nathaniel Spencer

Tuba

Nathaniel Spencer

Djembe

Christopher Cook

Timpani

Tricia Lakes

Violin

Lewis Eichelberger

Violin

Briana Robinson

Violin

Aaron Owens

Cello

Noah Johnson

Cello

Gary Clark

Harp

Crew

Director

Craig Brewer

Characters

Eddie Murphy

Screenplay

Kenya Barris

Screenplay, Story

David Sheffield

Screenplay, Story

Barry W. Blaustein

Story

Justin Kanew

Reviews

Wuchak

March 7, 2021

_**Fun reunion, but pales in comparison to the first movie**_

Three decades after the original film, Akeem (Eddie Murphy) discovers that he needs to go back to America with Semmi (Arsenio Hall). The principal cast members return with some new characters played by Jermaine Fowler, Tracy Morgan, Nomzamo Mbatha and KiKi Layne.

“Coming 2 America” (2021) is nowhere near as good as the first movie (which is probably my all-time favorite comedy), but it is fun to see where the characters are at after over thirty years, not to mention what they look like.

There are four things that hold the flick back: It seems like it’s in a hurry, peppered with music videos, not to mention it’s noticeably goofier than the original. It’s afraid to slow down for some compelling or heartwarming drama. When they do, like with Lavelle (Jermaine) and Mirembe (Nomzamo), it works and you start get drawn into the characters, but then it cuts to another crazed scene.

Secondly, Akeem isn’t as likable or funny here, whether that’s because of Eddie’s low-energy, mediocre writing or simply Akeem being stifled by tradition, I don’t know; probably a combination. Thirdly, the trip to New York City comes and goes so this isn’t really much of a Coming to America 2. The focus is on Zamunda, which is fine, but the story needed more interesting ideas and writing.

Lastly, I liked Jermaine Fowler as Lavelle Junson; he has charisma, but he pales in comparison to Murphy as Akeem in the first movie. The creators needed to spend more time fleshing out the potential of Jermaine and his character.

Despite these shortcomings, “Coming 2 America” is still worth catching if you’re a fan of the original flick. It’s great to see all the old characters and there are some amusing and entertaining moments; for instance, the early bit with Bopoto (Teyana Taylor), which made me bust out laughing.

The film runs 1 hour, 48 minutes, and was shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and New York City.

GRADE: B-/C+