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Reclaiming the spirit of the firstComing to Americamight not be as simple as it sounds.
Its not just that things have changed.
In other words,Coming 2 Americais both figuratively and literally a nostalgia tour.
The barbershop greets Akeem and Semmi with a hearty Hey, its Kunta Kinte and Ebola!
and follows that up with Famine and Blood Diamond!
and Nelson Mandela and Winnie!
Whereupon a random customer chimes in with Those hungry babies with the flies on their faces!
and suddenly everyone goes stone-faced.
These gabby old men may be out of touch, but even they have their limits.
The jokes, in other words, are the joke here.
All this is not to say thatComing 2 Americais some sleazebag edgelord fantasy of politically unacceptable humor.
In truth, its too leisurely and raggedly good-natured for that, more pageant than movie.
The best new things inComing 2 Americaare also, weirdly, the worst new things inComing 2 America.
Izzi is given almost nothing to do except show up, sneer a few threats, and then disappear.
