Friday, March 5, 2021
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Coming 2 America - Film/Online
Watch It Tonight, Friday Night!
Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
Coming 2America
Notmany hit films can wait a daunting thirty-three years to make a sequel andsuccessfully pull it off. In the case of “Coming 2 America,” the task at handwas not only well accomplished but has out done it predecessor. The combinationof Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall playing multiple characters along with an all-starcast was a mixed salad of exquisite talent that delivered the absolute best ofa tasty cinematic viewing experience.
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Arsenio Hall (Semmi) and Eddie Murphy (King Akeem)
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Garcelle Beauvais Rose Bearer Prietess
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Thecostumes were breath takingly beautiful and authentically Afrikan inspired. Ofcourse, what else would you expect from the film’s Oscar© winning costumedesigner Ruth E. Carter. The cast was an explosion of major stars includingprincipals Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Jermaine Fowler, ShariHeadley, Bella Murphy, Rotini, KiKi Layne, Nomzamo Mbatha, Teyana Tayler, Luenell,Garcelle Beauvais, Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, John Amos, Vanessa BellCalloway, Louie Anderson, Tracy Morgan, and Rick Ross, among others.
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KiKi Lane (Meeka) Eddie Murphy (King Akeem)
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When Murphy was asked about the five year journey that it took to get this projectto come to fruition thirty years after the first film, he responded saying, “Itwas maybe about three drafts of the script in, we kind of got it to where thestructure and the narrative thread was strong enough to where we said, we havea movie here. Now we just have to bring a younger writer in and put that modernspin on it.” “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris was the man tapped for the job.
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Teyana Taylor (Bopoto, Izzi's, daughter), Wesley Snipes (General Izzi)
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Snipes (Gen Izzi), Murphy (King Akeem) bitter foes
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Thefilm featured basically all of the original cast. Murphy stressed, “We wantedto bring everybody back from the original. Actually, we had to bring back fromwhere the story left off. Who would make the most sense and how can we connectthe dots the best? That’s how we picked who would be in the movie.” With somany of the originals returning to the set, it had to be a special sense ofdéjà vu for everybody. Arsenio had a particular story and described it saying,“There was a night where Eddie did a scene with John Amos at the McDows. And itwas the first time I walked into a room and saw John Amos and Louie Anderson. Itwas a real special kind of feeling. Especially for John. I love John. What Johnhas done for Black people in Hollywood when I was growing up, with the dignitythat he displayed as a man, I love him forever. And seeing him really warmed myheart.”
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Hall and Murphy playing multiple characters
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BothHall and Murphy reprised their original roles portraying multiple characters.Each character required hours spent in the makeup chair. Some beginning at 4 AMto complete on time for shooting.
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Jermaine Fowler (Prince Lavalle), Nomzamo Mbatha (Mirembe Royal Barber)
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Nowthat Prince Akeem (Murphy) has become king, his prince played by JermaineFowler falls in love with the palace royal barber Mirembe played by SouthAfrikan actress Nomzamo Mbatha who makes her Hollywood debut in this film. Thenhere we go with round two of a prince falling in love with someone deemedunworthy. |
Murphy King Akeem, Shari Headley (Queen Lisa)
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Withall of the major talent in this film, it is loaded with laughs and nice plottwists which makes it even better than the original. Don’t miss its debutairdate on Amazon on Friday, March 5th.
Thefilm was made under strict COVID-19 pandemic protocol at the fabulous TylerPerry Studios in Atlanta. It was directed by Craig Brewer. The story was byBarry W. Blaustein, Justin Kanew and David Sheffield based on the characters createdby Eddie Murphy. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield, Barry W.Blaustein and Kenya Barris.
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