“Coming 2 America” does that as well, in ways almost exclusively indebted to the appeal of the original. Where to Watch This Week’s New Movies, from ‘Joy Ride’ to ‘Earth Mama’ The romantic union between Prince Akeem Joffer and Lisa from Queens (Shari Headley) provided a boisterous foundation for probing dueling notions of Black identity that, like Murphy’s long-dormant standup, merged outrageous comedic stereotypes with a genuine soul-searching quest. In director John Landis’ hands, the absurdist plight of the African prince from the fictional Zamunda, who bucks tradition by falling in love with an American woman he meets to avoid his arranged marriage back home, felt like the authentic tale of a man coming to terms with his true self. Released in 1988 at the height of Murphy’s popularity, “Coming to America” blended satire and fairy tale romance through the sheer power of Murphy’s screen presence. Produced at a time when big, brash studio comedies rarely crack the zeitgeist, “Coming 2 America” works far better than the market standard, in part because it does right by its roots. Those who adore the original, however, will feel like they’ve been revisited by an old friend, or perhaps the dirty uncle, whose jokes are a bit frayed but still pointed enough. Anyone unfamiliar with that movie’s legacy - and, 33 years on, those people are really missing out - will find “ Coming 2 America,” the long-awaited followup, amusing in parts. It is important for everyone to see that love and respect.It’s hard to imagine a comedy like “Coming to America” getting made today, which means that only Eddie Murphy could resurrect it. They were able to say married for 30 years and have a loving family. Love says: “It is wonderful to see Akeem and Lisa’s love story because they did what they felt was right and did not follow the rules of his culture. “And, on top of that, I was watching my dad do all of this right before my eyes. So, by the end of the movie I just felt very proud, empowered and inspired.” ![]() “Up until that moment I had never seen Black royalty on TV,” she says. Through playing a character like Omma, who she describes as “intelligent, serious, studios, and a bad ass but who lives in a world where her life is heavily affected by misogynistic ideas,” Murphy hopes that audiences will feel like she did the first time she watched her dad’s classic film at 10 or 11 years old. “As we watch her navigate throughout her world, we see her consistently breaking those gender rules by simply just being herself.” “Although the system attempts to hold Omma back, she never lets those ideas define her,” she adds. ![]() “It’s important to have films like these because our stories need to be heard.” “I know lots of women can relate to the feelings that come with being silenced, especially Black women,” Murphy says of the film’s portrayal of the young women. The trio are martial arts-trained warriors, and, like Mirembe, not simply princesses awaiting rescue from their prince. ![]() Layne’s onscreen sisters Murphy (who plays the middle daughter Omma) and twelve-year-old Akiley Love (the youngest, Tinashe, who Love describes as “funny, fashionable and a tiny royal battle machine”) were also moved by the film’s themes. Nomzamo Mbatha (right) and Jermaine Fowler in “Coming 2 America.” Paramount Pictures
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