Dog’s Movie House: “Coming 2 America” No Classic, But Sweet In Its Own Right!

“Coming 2 America” deals with the story of Zamunda’s rule that only a male heir can take the throne. Prince Akeem (Murphy, in fine form in what amounts to a beefed up supporting role), is still living in the shadow of his powerful father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones, continuing to impress at the ripe young age of ninety). The king is ailing and informs Akeem that he has a bastard son living in, where else, Queens, New York. (Akeem’s conception of said son is related in flashback to the original film, where the horny Semmi, once again played by Arsenio Hall, bears a great deal of responsiblity for the deed.) Akeem knuckles under to his ailing father’s demand, despite the fact that the eldest of his three daughters (a charismatic Kiki Layne) is more prepared to rule than Akeem was at her age.

So Akeem and Semmi venture off again to the Big Apple to collect Akeem’s son, an ambitious, smart but somewhat directionless young man named Lavell Junson (Jermaine Fowler). He lives with his uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan) and his mother Mary (Leslie Jones) who are both pleased as punch when Akeem shows up and reveals Lavell’s royal lineage. After a short stop at the barbershop (where Murphy and Hall revive their heavily made-up characters, along with returning cohort Art Evans), everyone’s back in Zamunda where Lavell gets a crash course in royalty. Another side plot has Lavell being groomed quickly for a wedding to the daughter of another country’s despotic ruler, General Izzi (Wesley Snipes, reminding everyone what a fine comic actor he is). Izzi’s sister was the unfortunate woman originally betrothed to Akeem in the first film (“Hop on one leg and bark like a dog.”) and Izzi has not forgotten the slight.

What ensues are cameos from some of the biggest acts of the eighties (En Vogue, Salt ‘N’ Peppa, etc) return engagements from characters from the first film and some decent laughs along with a great deal of heart. The introduction of Bopoto (a luminous Teyana Taylor), Izzi’s daughter, as a potential bride to the tune of Prince’s “Gett Off” is one of the funniest highlights of the film. Comedically speaking the rest of the movie is a hodgepodge of laughs and dead spots. I think the film, particularly the verbal sparring between Hall and Morgan, would have benefited from the original film’s R rating. The watered down PG-13 just isn’t nearly as funny.

That said, the performances are all fairly engaging and even the stereotypical characters such as Mary and Uncle Reem get some rounded development toward the end of the film. Jones in particular gets to shine in the later half of the movie. I find Leslie Jones to be a talented performer, but writers have a tendency to script her characters as the one-note stereotypical loud black woman (Heeeeeey, girlfriend!) that I believe does her a disservice not only as an actor, but to the character she plays. It’s nice that in “Coming 2 America” Jones gets to stretch a little bit without giving up her character’s inherent energy.

“Coming 2 America” is certainly no classic, but the actors and the story are strong enough to give it a watch. The nostalgia, though a tad overdone in part, adds to the affection we have for these characters (Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate, anyone?). Give it a shot and if you’re not expecting a comedy classic, “Coming 2 America” is quite the enjoyable watch. 3 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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