{"id":101670,"date":"2021-03-17T12:37:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T17:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=101670"},"modified":"2021-03-17T12:38:29","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T17:38:29","slug":"coming-2-america-yea-or-nay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=101670","title":{"rendered":"Coming 2 America \u2013 Yea or Nay?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- RSR AD 1 --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1545664804358300\" data-ad-slot=\"7759247395\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><br \/>\n<div id=\"polls-2001\" class=\"wp-polls\">\n\t<form id=\"polls_form_2001\" class=\"wp-polls-form\" action=\"\/index.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t<p style=\"display: none;\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"poll_2001_nonce\" name=\"wp-polls-nonce\" value=\"02ce239de0\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t<p style=\"display: none;\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"poll_id\" value=\"2001\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Did you like Coming 2 America?<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"polls-2001-ans\" class=\"wp-polls-ans\"><ul class=\"wp-polls-ul\">\n\t\t<li><input type=\"radio\" id=\"poll-answer-4954\" name=\"poll_2001\" value=\"4954\" \/> <label for=\"poll-answer-4954\">Yes<\/label><\/li>\n\t\t<li><input type=\"radio\" id=\"poll-answer-4955\" name=\"poll_2001\" value=\"4955\" \/> <label for=\"poll-answer-4955\">No<\/label><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><input type=\"button\" name=\"vote\" value=\"   Vote   \" class=\"Buttons\" onclick=\"poll_vote(2001);\" \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#ViewPollResults\" onclick=\"poll_result(2001); return false;\" title=\"View Results Of This Poll\">View Results<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"polls-2001-loading\" class=\"wp-polls-loading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-polls\/images\/loading.gif\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading ...\" title=\"Loading ...\" class=\"wp-polls-image\" \/>&nbsp;Loading ...<\/div>\n<br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=101670\" rel=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=101670\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-101671 size-medium\" style=\"margin-right: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/coming-to-america-2-poster-eddie-murphy-james-earl-jones-social-featured-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/coming-to-america-2-poster-eddie-murphy-james-earl-jones-social-featured-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/coming-to-america-2-poster-eddie-murphy-james-earl-jones-social-featured-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/coming-to-america-2-poster-eddie-murphy-james-earl-jones-social-featured-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/coming-to-america-2-poster-eddie-murphy-james-earl-jones-social-featured.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>By Ty Ross<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Coming 2 America is hands down one of Eddie Murphy\u2019s best, and most successful movies. When it premiered in \u201988, it quickly became a fan favorite and international hit. Showcasing a different side of Murphy to those used to the jive talking, street wise characters from his big screen hits 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop. Getting his start on Saturday Night Live by hilariously portraying Gumby, The Little Rascals\u2019 Buckwheat and a more urban take on the PBS kid\u2019s show Mr. Roger\u2019s Neighborhood- Mr. Robinson\u2019s Neighborhood, Eddie had built his brand on being anything but child friendly. <!--more--><\/p>\n<p>When Coming to America premiered, some may been surprised to see that rough around the edges, in your face comedian they were used to, instead portraying a humble and na\u00efve African prince in search of true love. It should have been a hard sell to his usual audience, but it was the opposite.<\/p>\n<p>At a time when black characters were relegated to being the wise cracking sidekick, a movie with a mostly black cast that wasn\u2019t a blaxploitation film, was something new, and to be honest- long overdue for black moviegoers. And they responded by turning out to the theaters in record numbers.<\/p>\n<p>Which brings us to Coming 2 America. The long-awaited, if questionable, sequel to the previous hit. A sequel usually comes after an open-ended movie ending, generally in the action arena. After all Murphy did have previous success with the 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop franchises. But Coming to America was a love story, and had a pretty straight forward, ride off into the sunset ending. So why now? After 30 years? If it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it, right?<\/p>\n<p>The premise of Coming 2 America isn\u2019t terrible, but it isn\u2019t terribly original either. The plot revolves around an illegitimate son conceived by Prince Akeem with one of the ladies in the very memorable night club scene in Coming to America. Zamunda is under attack from Izzi (played by Wesley Snipes), a revolutionary looking to over-throw the royal family and take over. Being that Prince Akeem and Princess Lisa have only female children (Zamundan law prevents a female from running the country), there is no legal and rightful heir to the throne. Sending Murphy and Semi to return to America in search of his first born to bring him back to Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Not particularly excited at the plot, I must admit with so many remakes and reboots failing to live up to viewer\u2019s expectations, I was hesitant to watch. I didn\u2019t want to tarnish the fond memories I had for a movie that was damn near perfect in my mind. But one man\u2019s trash is another\u2019s treasure, so let\u2019s take a look at some of the highs and lows of the sequel.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>The Good<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The movie opens in Zamunda, a fictional African paradise. New to some but known to many more. It was nice to see so many familiar faces, however briefly, in the sequel. From Hollywood legends James Earl Jones, as King Joffer- King Hakeem\u2019s father, to John Amos. Father of Shari Headley\u2019s Lisa McDowell. Arsenio Hall also returns as Semi. The snarky, trouble making servant and closest friend of Murphy\u2019s Prince Akeem.<\/p>\n<p>There weren\u2019t many white actors in the first Coming to America, but who could forget comedian Louie Anderson. The loyal and enthusiastic fast food worker at McDowell\u2019s. The Queens outpost and McDonald\u2019s knock-off. McDowell\u2019s, surprisingly, makes an appearance as well. Now a franchise in Zamunda run by Amos.<\/p>\n<p>When Akeem returns to America to search for his son, the movie continues its trip down memory lane. Stopping at the infamous barbershop where the same 3 wise cracking old men are still serving up their own brand of old school humor.<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of references to scenes in the first movie in Coming 2 America. I suspect this is to bridge the gap for those who may be younger, and unfamiliar with the classic. Allowing them to follow along with the story, without feeling lost. But this is also a downside to the film. By weaving so much of the original story into the sequel, it doesn\u2019t feel like it stands on its own. Despite the introduction of more recent comedic and pop culture icons like Tracy Jordan, Leslie Jones and hit rapper\/singer Teyana Taylor. Leading me to the low points.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>The Bad<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Coming 2 America is painfully predictable, and unnecessarily stereotypical, in the second half. The over-the-top sexual innuendos just seem forced. And do we need another wanna be rapper? There\u2019s the overprotective and streetwise Uncle Reem played by Jordan. He helped his single parent sister, played by Jones, raised her and Akeem\u2019s son Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler). Both Jones and Jordan are great comedians in their own right, yet their jokes come off as flat and miss the mark more than they hit.<\/p>\n<p>Once they all get back to Zamunda, Coming 2 America becomes little more than a rehash of Coming to America\u2019s plot. There isn\u2019t much new or exciting about the recycled plot of \u2013 Royal heir, arranged marriage, falls in love with commoner, goes against father\u2019s wishes. Wash rinse repeat.<\/p>\n<p>Now don\u2019t get me wrong, I didn\u2019t hate the movie. It had some funny parts, just not enough to make it memorable. In today\u2019s age of wokeness and after the #metoo movement, parts of the story like the royal bathers, seemed outdated and out of place. While the idea of subservient women whose sole job is to \u2018bathe the royal penis\u2019 could be perceived as funny 30 years ago, in today\u2019s times the ick factor was high.<\/p>\n<p>They also missed the opportunity to give the character Meeka a more prominent and interesting story line. The potential was there, and I was quite excited to see where they movie might go with her character. Unfortunately, she was little more than an afterthought.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, was it awful? No. Did it need to be made? Also, no. But if you are a fan of the first and you\u2019re bored on a weekend afternoon, why not? As long as you keep your mind open and don\u2019t expect too much. You\u2019ll forget it as soon as you watch it. But I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve seen worse.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808000;\"><em><strong>Check out Ty&#8217;s book THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE. It&#8217;s a collection of affirmations she wrote to get her through a difficult time in her life. Words of wisdom that apply to anyone, and everyone, to get through the hard times. If you\u2019re questioning yourself, and need a reminder that you are in control&#8230; Click <a style=\"color: #808000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/POWER-PERSPECTIVE-Gaining-Clarity-Affirmation-ebook\/dp\/B07JW63Q6X\">HERE<\/a> to order your copy.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n[si-contact-form form=&#8217;2&#8242;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Ty Ross Coming 2 America is hands down one of Eddie Murphy\u2019s best, and most successful movies. When it premiered in \u201988, it quickly became a fan favorite and international hit. Showcasing a different side of Murphy to those used to the jive talking, street wise characters from his big screen hits 48 Hours [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17984],"tags":[25897],"class_list":["post-101670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment-news","tag-coming-2-america-yea-or-nay"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=101670"}],"version-history":[{"count":-1,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101670\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=101670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=101670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=101670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}