Imagine this.
An all-Black movie with an incredible cast is created and gifted to us.
That film becomes a seminal part of Black American culture. Easily on the Mount Rushmore of Black cinema. The other three slots might differ depending on your taste — it could go from The Color Purple to Love Jones to Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. You might nominate Roots or Friday or Malcolm X. But one cinematic offering, this film, is pretty much a unanimous first ballot hall-of-famer.
Imagine this.
A film that gave the an imagined African Royal family, a country full of riches and majesty before we were blessed with Wakanda. Would there be a Wakanda without a Zamunda?
This film, a certified classic with innumerable scenes, lines and characters that are etched in our memory, showcased an amazing array of Black talent. It gave us legends: James Earl Jones, John Amos and Madge Sinclair. It also introduced us Garcelle Beauvais tossing roses, Victoria Dillard making sure the royal jewels were clean, a young, silent Cuba Gooding, Jr. getting a trim and we get our first taste of a ridiculously angry Samuel L. Jackson debuting a role he would come to reprise in every single film he’s ever been in.
We had decades to watch and rewatch this film. To perfect our “What is that, velvet?” To discover Easter eggs planted throughout. To see if we can hit that high not on Queen to Be. That’s the name of the song, right?
Okay. You’ve guessed it. I’m talking about Coming to America. The favorite movie of at least one person in your circle. That’s a scientific fact. I ask somebody.
So, by now you know they made a “sequel,” cleverly titled Coming 2 America. I put sequel in quotations because it’s been 30 years. Is it really a sequel if it’s been so long? Hell, Eddie’s fathered like 9 children since the first one came out.
And maybe that’s some of the issue. Many of us were looking for the sequel. I love a good sequel when done right: The Godfather II, The Empire Strikes Back and Shrek 2 are all bangers. Though many sequels fall flat — no one needed the second Major League movie.
And no one needed a Coming to America sequel. And we didn’t get one. We got another film connected to the franchise. A film that leant on our love for the original but didn’t try to replicate the formula.
I watched Coming 2 America with as few expectations as possible. And that’s a good thing. Had I gone into it looking for it to be the first, I would have been miserable disappointed. Even with all of the character overlap and forced cameos, it was an entirely different movie.
If Coming to America was a fat, juicy burger from your favorite greasy spoon, then Coming 2 America was an Impossible burger on gluten-free bread with organic sriracha. It doesn’t taste the same, but you can see what they were going for.
Now, I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t laugh out loud too many times. A lot more “ha” and “okay, that’s funny” this time around. I like a healthy amount of well-placed profanity with my comedies. It was pretty corny in some spots, but wasn’t the first rather corny?
Folks out here crucifying this one. Treating it like it’s Meteor Man or something.
But it was bright and nostalgic. It took us back and introduced us to some young, talented actors.
A family-friendly movie that paid homage to a classic. A film with a few holes and some subpar performances but a whole lot of melanin that wasn’t destructive in its messaging.
I never found Leslie Jones incredibly funny, and Tracy Morgan hasn’t made me laugh much since he was Hustle Man on Martin. But I’m glad they got some shine. And they actually made me laugh a little bit.
And Wesley Snipes was cool as hell, skinny Rick Ross got a cameo, and Teyana Taylor made me jump up and go work out.
And that damn Kiki Layne is a star!
Does this make it on that Mount Rushmore? Hell no! Will I be running to watch it over and over again? Probably not. Did it ruin the first one for me? Absolutely not.
It’s a film that I can watch with my nieces. They’ll laugh and I’ll smirk. And that’s good enough to me.
What did you think?
Question: Did the Jaden Smith version of the Karate Kid face this much scrutiny?