The highly anticipated sequel to Coming to America hit streaming services this weekend and there are a lot of opinions. One of the main points of argument was the over-indulgence catering to today's culture rather than keeping more subtly impactful like the original. To some, the homage came off as tacky, corny even. Agreed.
Coming 2 America serves as the sequel to the classic Coming to America released in 1988. The 2021 sequel features all of the original cast and adds on some new talent as well. Hip Hop culture is written all over it and often it's presented in the corniest ways.
The OG's are full of legends like Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones, and Arsenio Hall. Teyanna Taylor, Rotimi, and Rick Ross represented the musicians and the movie even had special cameos from Gladys Knight, En Vogue, and Salt N Peppa. To round it out, we got to see the comedic relief from the likes of Leslie Jones, Michael Blackson, and Tracy Morgan. It was great seeing a film with so many familiar faces, but the storyline lacked and did not live up to its origin. I was not surprised, movies now are all based on trying to keep up with the newest trends. I saw and heard the name "Fashion Nova" about 3-4 times throughout the movie, it didn't have anything to do with the storyline.
As the firstborn and daughter of my father who is the king of our family, I can relate to a significant storyline in the movie. I am stronger and smarter than my younger brother, yet he gets most of the credit and responsibilities. We are not royalty, but I am sure many young ladies feel the same within their families and I am happy they recognized it in this film.
This sequel lacked everything that the original embodied: The emphasis on the beauty of Brooklyn and the unique culture they have. The film had a lot of stories going on but focused heavily on love. The sequel didn't seem to be centered on any one specific storyline. I honestly kept watching for the hope of seeing another cameo, it almost felt like "Where's Waldo", searching to find all of the celebrities that came and went.
I will admit the beauty of Africa was on point with both films. The wardrobe, accents, and decor were amazing. Showcasing black people as royalty in Hollywood is really refreshing to see. Let's face it, for the past 3 to 4 years we haven't seen many black films that are instant classics like we used to in the 90s and early 2000s. This sequel offered a nostalgic feel which we all can appreciate, especially now.
I recommend watching so you can be apart of the conversation, but otherwise, expect corny jokes and somewhat bad acting. It's only available via Amazon Video, but if you have a subscription, you are all set, just keep the expectations at "sequel".
