Connect with us

Film

Eddie Murphy’s ‘Coming 2 America’- Movie Review

by Betty Halsell

Published

on

Coming 2 America unearthed bejeweled life lessons, sewn in with the fabrics of true love. It touched on blended families, racism, feminism, and just a touch of true passion and diplomatic change. Paramount Pictures, New Republic Pictures, Eddie Murphy Productions, and  Misher Films carefully groomed this sequel to sit on the throne as the next American classic.

Coming 2 America is the true royal oat to the 1988 narrative. The movie picks up 30 years later, back in Zamunda. The future king Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his beloved wife, Lisa (Shari Headley), arise to their three daughters wishing them a happy anniversary. It is important for there to be a male heir to carry out the patriotic rule of the country in royal families, this was something Prince Akeem assumed he failed at accomplishing. However, to his surprise, a royal oat was sewn, Lavelle Johnson (Jermaine Fowler) sprouted back in the land of Queens.

Prince Akeem soon becomes king, and with the new crown, comes new weight. Coming 2 America presented real scenarios like a blended family, Queen Lisa and Levelle’s mother (Leslie Jones) were vastly different but found common ground.

The movie touched on the rule of tradition that overshadows the change for the future, as Meeka (Kiki Lane) eldest royal daughter, watched her dreams of being Queen fade away as soon as there was talk of a son. Women in Zamunda spoke of owning their own business, but solemnly knew according to Zamunda Law, it was not possible. The sequel presented each problem smoothly – they were serious issues, without political heaviness.

Getting into the design and feel of Zamunda, one could assume the wealth of this country is on the highest scale. They pulled from both African and African-American cultures. The entrances of General Izzy (Wesley Snipes) paralleled ‘stepping’ from Black fraternities/sororities (think stomp the yard every time General Izzy entered the scene.) The costumes were curated by Oscar award-winning Ruth E. Carter, who was the designer behind Wakanda’s sense of fashion.

Although there wasn’t an official breakdown of what African tribes inspired Carter, she is known to pull from South Africa, using African lace, symbols, and their traditional headdress as statement pieces. Each character presented a unique style, Prince Lavelle interpreted the royal stride and attire to fit his personal taste of swag and cadence. All the intricate nuances that make up Black culture were joined with the vivacious origins of African heritage, which was a beautiful marriage of its own. Also, the athletic brand Puma was spotted making their renditions of African-inspired gear in the movie.

The sequel upheld the presence of being over the top like the 1980s original, with a dash of new flavor, giving it a different soulful bite. There were quick peeks into places that made the classic movie the crowned jewel that it is, such as McDowell’s fast food eatery, adding “healthier options.” The ingenious characters Murphy created were peppered throughout the film effortlessly.

Nostalgic cameo appearances throughout the journey were made the singing royal announcer Oha (Paul Bates), Morris and Clarence from the barbershop(Arsenio Hall and Murphy), the womanizing pastor Reverend Brown (Hall), the arranged betrothed Imani Izzy (Vanessa Bell Calloway), and Randy “Sexual Chocolate” Watson (Murphy) all played into the new story of royalty.

Love expanded as the root of the story, planting different seeds where it was needed. The affection between a son and his mother who raised him, the love of tradition and family honor, and how love can also be the seed for change. Throughout the movie, Prince Akeem once again evolves to another version of himself, bringing along his country to a new level of progression.

The credits had a few sparks as well, with much-wanted bloopers and an unexpected musical artist doing the cover of the endearing serenade, ” She’s Your Queen.” Much like the 1988 original, the sequel was light-hearted but tackled some of the most tangible issues that America is facing today, Coming 2 America brought back a much-needed smile and feel-good reality that the nation is looking to get back to.

Available March 5 exclusively on Amazon Prime.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Film

‘Sinners’: Michael B.Jordan Plays Twin Brothers In New Ryan Coogler Film

Published

on

Michael B. Jordan

The first trailer for ‘Sinners,’ Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler’s latest collaboration, has dropped.

Set in the South during the Jim Crow era, the movie centers around twin brothers, both played by Jordan, who encounter mystery evil upon returning to their hometown of New Orleans.  “I ain’t seen no demons, no ghosts, no magic — till now,” says Jordan’s character as the trailer starts.

Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan in ‘Sinners’

The official synopsis for the upcoming vampire thriller reads,

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. 

Michael B. Jordan

This marks Coogler’s first original project since ‘Fruitvale Station’ (2013) which also starred Jordan. The duo later worked on ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Creed’.

Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, and Jack O’Connell also star in ‘Sinners,’ which will be released in theaters on March 7, 2025. Watch the trailer below.


Continue Reading

Blog

Who Is Denzel Washington’s Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’

Published

on

'Gladiator II'

The highly anticipated premiere of the upcoming sequel to Gladiator is fast approaching, and Paramount just released a second trailer for the historical action film (you can watch it below). It further introduces characters new to the franchise, including Denzel Washington‘s Macrinus who is based on a real person. So, who was he, and what should we know about the real-life Macrinus? Before we dive in, let’s briefly look at ‘Gladiator II’ official synopsis. It reads,

Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Who was Macrinus IRL?

Macrinus reigned as the emperor of Rome from 217 to 218 AD. To obtain the most influential title in Rome, he conspired against Emperor Caracalla and effectively carried out his assassination. However, he only ruled for a year before he was executed following a coup led by Caracalla’s aunt—the events of ‘Gladiator II’ predate that period of history.

Gladiator II

Pre-emperor Macrinus

Even before becoming a Roman emperor, Macrinus was a man of great influence. He held a high office position under Emperor Septimius Severus and later under his son, Emperor Caracalla (played by Fred Hechinger in Gladiator II). This is most likely the point at which viewers will meet these characters.

Gladiator II

Macrinus and gladiator Lucius

Judging by the trailer, Washington’s Macrinus will become very invested in Paul Mescal’s gladiator character, Lucius – the son of Lucilla and General Maximus from the original Gladiator. “You will be my instrument,” Macrinus tells Lucius. “You have something. I knew it from the start. That rage is your gift.”

Gladiator II

Director Ridley Scott on Washington’s Macrinus

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ridley Scott shared some critical details about Washington’s Macrinus. He said:

“Denzel is an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, supplies wine and oil, makes steel, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he is a very wealthy man. Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators. He’s beautiful. He drives a golden Ferrari. I got him a gold-plated chariot.”

Gladiator II

‘Gladiator II’ will be released in theaters on November 22, 2024. Watch the latest trailer below.

Continue Reading

Film

Hulu’s New Horror ‘Mr. Crocket’ Will Crawl Out of Your TV This October🎃

You’ve never had a friend like him

Published

on

Mr. Crocket feature image

Hulu is gearing up to deliver a spine-chilling treat with the trailer release for ‘Mr. Crocket,’ a horror movie set to premiere on October 11, 2024. Brandon Espy, known for his work in horror, directed the film, which expands on a 2022 short film of the same name.

Set in the 90s, the film delves into the dark, twisted psyche of a children’s show host named Mr. Crocket, who transcends the boundaries of television to commit heinous acts. If you thought your childhood TV shows were safe, think again! This isn’t your typical “let’s watch cartoons on a Saturday morning” vibe; this is a straight-up, heart-pounding horror set to make you question every kids’ show you ever loved. Here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming horror feature.

Mr. Crocket official poster

‘Mr. Crocket’ transports viewers back to 1993, where the line between children’s entertainment and horror blurs terrifyingly. The film’s premise revolves around Mr. Crocket, a seemingly benign children’s show host, who emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. One mother whose child gets kidnapped by the sinister host embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her son.

The newly released trailer showcases eerie scenes of children watching their favorite show, only for the television to become a portal for Mr. Crocket’s sinister escapades. The visual style hints at a blend of nostalgia for ’90s aesthetics with modern horror techniques.

The horror flick’s cast includes Jerrika Hinton, Elvis Nolasco, Ayden Gavin, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Alex Akpobome.

‘Mr. Crocket’ is part of Hulu’s Huluween lineup, a tradition where the streaming service releases horror content to celebrate the Halloween season. This year’s horror titles also include up-and-comer Justin Harding’s ‘Carved’ and Karrie Crouse and Will Joines’ ‘Hold Your Breath’ starring  Sarah Paulson.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Hollywood Melanin