Eddie Murphy interested in Coming To America 3

Coming 2 America ⭐️⭐️⭐️ took too many years to come to fruition, but Eddie Murphy is reportedly already interested in planning a third movie.

“Coming 2 America” the long-awaited sequel might have just been released, but star Eddie Murphy already wants a third film and he wants costume designer Ruth E. Carter to return. The two sat down for Variety’s “Dream Teams” sequel to discuss their latest collaboration, and Murphy is planning, but audiences don’t have to wait thirty years, “You have to do next time,” he tells Carter. “[Set] sixteen years from now.”

Eddie Murphy and Ruth E. Carter on “Coming 2 America” Collaboration – Variety

If they do a Coming To America 3, then it needs to focus more on Murphy’s character Akeem. Murphy should be the centerpiece of the comedy, not other, younger actors. Arsenio Hall and he are and should always be the central characters in this franchise. It’s a little like having an Indiana Jones with Indy not being the central character. That was my main beef with Coming 2 America, and hopefully we’ll get more Hall and Murphy if there is a third movie.

Do you want to see another Coming To America sequel or are you done with the franchise? While they’re at it, how about Trading Places sequel or (gasp) Another Another 48 Hours? Murphy is already working on more Axel Foley in another Beverly Hills Cop sequel.

No More John Landis Directed Eddie Murphy Movies?

Despite multiple movie success together, including the iconic Coming To America ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½, Eddie Murphy and director John Landis don’t like each other. This was news to us, but maybe you’d heard about their rift before?

This sense of control makes Coming To America seem more like a Murphy flex than a Landis film. Landis has characterized Murphy as arrogant and alienating during the film’s production, while Murphy characterized Landis as spending the shoot fuming impotently over perceived disloyalty. Yet it still makes a bizarre kind of sense that their partnership worked with this particular movie; its mix of absurd extravagance and cornball charm stands out from Murphy’s other ’80s vehicles, fractious production or not. On screen, at least, Murphy and Landis experienced a brief connection—like two ships passing, threatening each other with bodily harm, and angrily renouncing each other in the night.

Eddie Murphy and John Landis clashed their way through three big, unwieldy comic vehicles

Unless both men put their differences aside, it sure sounds like we won’t be seeing Landis directing any more Eddie Murphy movies. The article linked above covers Landis’ well publicized troubles surrounding the making of The Twilight Zone movie when Vic Morrow died along with a couple illegally employed child actors.

After consulting Landis’ filmography on Wikipedia, we see he hasn’t done many films since Murphy and him last collaborated on Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994. Just four films directed by Landis including Blues Brothers 2000 which had nothing to do with Murphy or the late, great John Belushi, but hey it had Dan Akroyd at least.

Would you like to see an R rated Eddie Murphy and John Landis collaboration again? Even though Beverly Hills Cop III wasn’t that great, nor Coming 2 America, it sure begs the question if Landis and Murphy and an R rating would have made the film better. I liked what director Craig Brewer did with Dolemite Is My Name? so staying with the premise that the PG-13 and a script which didn’t feature Murphy as the main actor, nor America in a movie with the country in the title, were the biggest issues.

Coming 2 America ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Coming 2 America – PG-13 – 1 hr 50 min
NO SPOILERS Movie Review
Watched on Amazon Prime Video Friday March 5, 2021
Amazon Prime Video – Pierce County, Washington

Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall return in their late 80s comedy roles. This time Prince Akeem learns he has a bastard son (Jermaine Fowler) and must travel to America to bring him to Zamunda to become heir to the throne. If you’re thinking, hey, that sounds a little like the original movie, you’d be right. Only this time, America isn’t really the central focus, nor is Prince Akeem — which leaves this sequel on thematically shaky ground.

Many people, myself included, feel that Coming To America ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ is among Eddie Murphy’s finest movies. Tops in comedy along with 48 Hours ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½, Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop. Murphy has had movies that make you cry with laughter down to movies that make you cringe (Pluto Nash) and everywhere in between. Most recently, he’s on the comeback trail, trying to relive his funny non-children friendly movie phase. Dolemite Is My Name ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was his last comedy, and it was, somewhat surprisingly, a good one.

When I heard they were making a sequel to Coming To America, I was at first a little skeptical. After seeing Dolemite Is My Name, I was more interested and it became one of my most anticipated films of 2020. Alas, we all know what happened to movies in theaters in 2020, most being pushed off to the future and some to streaming instead of in theaters.

I don’t think seeing this movie in theaters versus streaming would have made much difference in the overall experience. It’s not the type of movie that requires a theatrical screening. Most comedies can be enjoyed on streaming equally to the theater and I’m a huge fan of the movie theater experience. Other genres like action, sci-fi and other more cinematic spectacles demand the big screen treatment.

Also, I’m not one that harps on movie ratings in reviews, but here in Eddie Murphy’s career case, ratings do seem to matter — a lot. His film output when it’s rated R is funnier. When critically reviewing comedies, humor is the #1 aspect we analyze. Is it funny? Does it make us laugh? The story can be implausible (they often are), the characters can act unrealistically (many do), just make us laugh out loud.

Eddie Murphy’s R-rated comedies have done that. This one, however, is rated PG-13.

Murphy never should have left R rated movies. Seriously, he is funniest when he doesn’t try to water down his raucous brand of comedy. Coming 2 America is humorous, but not laugh out loud funny. It’s the semi-neutered joke that makes you smile and maybe even chuckle, but it doesn’t make you laugh. Eddie Murphy himself returning as Prince Akeem is older, slower and not the main focus in either jokes or prominence. Wesley Snipes with his role as the opposing kingdom leader is arguably more funny in his minor character role.

The best parts of this are when they pay homage to the original. The scenes which harken back to those hilarious barber shop characters (played by Murphy and Arsenio Hall in 6+ hours of makeup). Even these characters lines aren’t as funny here as they were in the first movie.

One scene callback example that isn’t as funny here as before is when Akeem walks in front of a taxi. In the original film, the taxi driver jumps out and screams a profane name at him. A minute later Akeem asks Semmi what the name meant? That sort of perfectly timed comedic naivete was hilarious. In this movie, a similar scene involves Akeem stopping in front of a Uber/Lyft driver. That guys gets out and tells Akeem he needs to use the app to schedule a pickup — without the profanity and without the follow-up naivete. It’s timely, yes, for 2021, but it isn’t remotely as funny.

Despite shortcomings, I was happy to see Murphy and Hall revisit the original movie. It wasn’t a bad sequel, like so many are, and at times it almost captures the spirit and magic of the first film, but that one is superior comedically and dramatically in so many ways. It’s (too) obvious they wanted to relive former glory instead of telling a story we absolutely needed in 2021. I’m happy we got this, don’t get me wrong, unlike many sequels, but wished it was funnier. This made me smile. Guess that’s enough, but if it had been R-rated and Murphy had let loose, gone more off the hook old school (like he can do when he wants), this would have been funnier.

After watching this — then rewatching a second time just to appreciate some of the more nuanced comedy — I went back to the original film. Parts of that film still made me laugh out loud, despite it being 30+ years old. Great comedy just never dies. Coming 2 America doesn’t have that same staying power feel. Is it worth seeing? Yes, if only to remind how great the original film was and to smile at the appearance of old friends returning.

Rating (out of 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Todd)

If Coming 2 America Skips Theater Release for Streaming, Paramount+? Netflix? Where?

Missed this speculation from Washington Post and Cinemablend last month. Titles skipping theatrical release in 2020? Yes, we all know it’s happening.

In light of the number of titles that have skipped a theater release, Disney recent title delay shuffleboard (see: YIKES – Disney Postpones Black Widow, West Side Story, Death On The Nile … more), it is an increasingly realistic possibility.

One of my five most anticipated movies of 2020, is the sequel Coming 2 America (love that title for a sequel), with Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and others returning to their iconic 80s comedy roles. It has not moved from its original scheduled release date of December 18 yet …

As of right now, Craig Brewer’s Coming 2 America appears to be in the former camp, set to hit the big screen just in time for Christmas, but if current rumors pan out then that may not be true for too long. According to Washington Post reporter Steven Zeitchik, there have been conversations going on behind the scenes at Paramount Pictures that could eventually lead to the Eddie Murphy-starring sequel finding distribution on a streaming service instead of playing in theaters.

Could Coming To America 2 Be Heading To A Streaming Service? – CINEMABLEND

I’d like to see Coming 2 America show up in theaters first. I definitely don’t want it to do a Bill & Ted Face The Music and go straight to VOD, but can imagine it being a featured launch title for Paramount+ as part of their CBS All Access rebranding “in early 2021” (see: ViacomCBS announces new plus-sized name for expanded CBS All Access: Paramount+)

Eddie Murphy is enjoying a little 80s resurgence as new fans are realizing he once had a hit song called “Party All The Time” in addition that, yes, he is funny and can do adult humor after his role in Dolemite Is My Name.

Imagine it is 1985. Ronald Reagan is the president. Back to the Future dominates in movie theaters. Commodore Computers launches the Amiga personal computer. And comedy superstar Eddie Murphy—perhaps the most gifted comedian to ever get his start on Saturday Night Live —puts out How Could It Be, an album featuring the song “Party All the Time.” The music is characterized by one critic as “Gumby goes disco” but it makes it to no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

this song sounds like cocaine.

— Khalil. (@khalilmsaadiq) September 25, 2020

I was more into 80s hard rock bands than pop dance songs, but did kind of groove on Murphy’s tune.

Back to Coming 2 America. What’s your preference for the release? A theatrical release in December as planned? Off to premiere on a streaming channels of choice? VOD like Bill & Ted Face The Music? Premium VOD + streaming a la Mulan?

FIRST LOOK: Coming 2 America

No poster for Coming 2 America yet

This one is 32 years old. 32 years between sequels has to be up there in the record books, especially when so many of the original cast are returning. Pretty much every single minor character with any sort of significant part except for Eric LaSalle, the horny sister and Samuel L. Jackson are returning.

Plus Wesley Snipes and Tracy Morgan have joined to play new parts. Sign me up.

Am a huge fan of the original Coming To America starring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. You’ll note the box art is not for the new movie and there isn’t any trailer here, but I’m profiling what we know so far this early and I’ll have more coverage as the release date gets closer.

This comedy came out when more R-rated, edgy comedies were being released. Eddie Murphy has states that this sequel will not be R rated and instead be PG-13, I guess to expand the potential audience.

Sort of have mixed feelings about it not carrying the same R rating as the original. Murphy just isn’t as edgy as he once was and now we’re seeing horror movies try to do the same thing: telling more watered down PG-13 stories just to make sure they don’t get an R rating.

Again, it is amazing to see so many of the cast from the original movie coming back three decades later. Pretty much everybody involved in the first movie including: Arsenio Hall as Akeem’s best friend Semmi, Shari Headley as Lisa McDowell, John Amos as Cleo McDowell, James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer, Vanessa Bell Calloway as Imani Izzi (the daughter that Akeem did not marry in the original movie). Paul Bates as Oha, Louie Anderson as Maurice (the employee at McDowell’s restaurant that was trying to move up in management).

As far as plot and story goes …

About to be crowned king upon the passing of King Jaffee (James Earl Jones), Akeem is made to swear on his father’s deathbed that he’ll return to America in order to complete a specific task: a reunion with the son he never knew he had (Jermaine Fowler), in the hopes of bringing him home to Zamunda, where he’ll become a prince.

Coming 2 America: Your Guide to the Long-Awaited Sequel

This movie sounds like it’s going to be a ton of fun. I can’t remember many sequels that have had so many of the original actors/actresses in it from the original movie so many years later.

32 years later!

Yikes, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, does it? There has been no trailer for the film posted yet. This movie and West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg are pretty much the Star Wars movie of December 2020, since there are no other major wide release movies scheduled for December 18, 2020 as of this writing. It’s early in the year though, so movie dates can be moved around.

Coming 2 America is coming to theaters on December 18, 2020.