Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, who plays the role of Prince Akeem in the 1989 hit comedy Coming to America, explains why the legacy encircling the movie still makes a difference almost 32 years after it was first broadcast.
There is no hiding the fact that the iconic film still proves to be relevant. The film has a predominantly black cast, who portrayed characters hailed from both the fictional nation of Zamunda and the real-world Queens, New York. The result was absolute comedic beauty.
Recently, Eddie Murphy spoke out about why the film is so unique and why it still stands over almost 30 years after the original’s release. In the actor’s own words while talking to Essence,
“The legacy of Coming to America is that it is unique, it’s rare. Black people, we don’t get a lot of movies like this one. Coming to America is a romantic fantasy comedy. Usually, when we see ourselves on the screen, it’s heavy things…Rarely do we get just to go see some escapism. Just to go see a movie and not have to think about any of that stuff.”
Eddie Murphy
The fact is there aren’t many films where Black Americans can see themselves represented, let alone ones that are enduring cult classics, and that makes Coming to America much more unique and special.
In the 32 years since the movie’s release, it’s still challenging to find another film with a primarily black cast that doesn’t contain a heavy undertone. Coming to America is a comedy that encompasses elements of fantasy and romance.
In the same interview, the actor says that Coming to America is still a favorite film for so many because it furnishes a rare gentleness that Black people hardly get with movies, a romantic fairytale with Black identities. He explains,
“Coming to America is an all-Black cast, but the movie’s not about race. It’s not about having a foot in your ass or ‘Wake up’ or ‘Keep hope alive.’ It’s none of those things that you can just go and sit back and watch the movie. And it’s about these people and it’s about somebody that’s trying to find true love. It’s like a fantasy, like a fairy tale. And that’s the legacy of the movie that it’s one of the few romantic fairy tales with Black people. I think that’s why we love it. That’s why 30 years later, we still watch it and they show it on Christmas and all that. Cause it’s this sweet thing.”
Eddie Murphie
In recent times, more and more films with all-Black casts and Black leads in Hollywood are being produced, and while we have influential messaged films such as Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Us, we’re also observing Black actors in the softer cinematic fare. Hopefully, Hollywood will become more diverse in the future since it still has a generous amount of work to accomplish in that area.
Coming 2 America is scheduled to release on Amazon Prime on March 5.
About Coming 2 America 2
Almost thirty years later, King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) who is the king of Zamunda now with three daughters and the love of his life Lisa (Shari Headley), his American sweetheart. The only issue is the throne of Zamunda can only be succeeded by a male heir and he has none. That’s when he discovers about Lavelle (Jeremy Fowler), his son who is the outcome of a fling with someone in New York. So he along with his trusted friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) sets out to find his son.
The film is a sequel to the landmark 80s comedy Coming to America which carved a special for itself in American hearts. With a predominantly Black cast, a rarity at the time, the film was based on a story by the lead actor, Eddie Murphy.
No Comments on Eddie Murphy Explains Why the Legacy of ‘Coming to America’ Still Matters