Coming 2 America Trailer Hits the Shores
Get ready for another culture shock because Amazon has released a trailer for Coming 2 America (see what they did there?), the sequel to the comedy smash from 1988. Eddie Murphy reprises one of his most famous roles, Akeem, prince – and now about to be king – of the African nation of Zamunda, who once again heads to New York, this time to meet his long-lost son. Arsenio Hall is back too as his best friend and servant Semmi, and the two also portray several supporting characters, as they did in the original. Shari Headley, James Earl Jones, John Amos, and several others return as well, and they’re joined by Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, and Wesley Snipes. Craig Brewer, who directed Black Snake Moan, Hustle & Flow, and Dolemite Is My Name, steps in for John Landis, who helmed the original. Coming 2 America will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime on March 5, 2021. Check out the Coming 2 America trailer below:
The Coming 2 America trailer has me a bit torn. Coming to America is a comedy classic, but it doesn’t really lend itself to a sequel. Why would Akeem have to return to America after finding his bride? The reason the sequel gives convinces me this wasn’t necessary: Akeem has a child about whom he never knew and has to go to New York to find him. That feels like a reach. Admittedly, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Coming to America, but did he have a relationship – or a more fleeting encounter – with anyone outside of Lisa? If not, are they just going to introduce that idea now? I know it’s a comedy and the laughs are the main thing, but these were characters who had arcs, and messing with that could detract from what is a beloved movie. Add to that Leslie Jones and Tracy Morgan, who will probably spend their screen time shouting over each other, and this doesn’t seem like a must-see – or, at least, it didn’t until the barbershop denizens showed up. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are playing the crew again, and the few lines they show in the Coming 2 America trailer are hilarious. Moreover, they seem to be mocking woke culture and political correctness, which in itself makes this a must-see. I wonder if this will become more popular now; part of why Cobra Kai is so popular is because it goes after the current obsession with being offended, and jabs at pearl-clutching seem to be more frequent in entertainment recently. If anyone is perfect for taking on that madness, it’s Eddie Murphy, and even if this sequel turns out to be as bad an idea as I’m afraid it is, maybe we can at least cheer it on for being as fearless as Eddie was in his prime.
What did you think of the Coming 2 America trailer? Are you going to watch it when it hits Amazon Prime? How far away are we from Boomerang 2: Return to Sender? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to Geeks + Gamers for more movie news!
