I didn't even laugh throughout the whole movie. I'll have to watch the first one again to see if there was any there as well. Felt like I was watching Barber Shop. They ghettoized the kingdom (to an extent) while bringing in American progressive culture (to an extent). Didn't really detect any wokeness as some mentioned. They also had hiphop dance in the mix at the kingdom which a bit weird for this type of movie. I didn't find Leslie Jones annoying as she was in Ghostbusters. Some of you were complaining about her but she felt more tame and fit the role here.
I laughed out loud once - I think it was early on but I don't remember the joke. Maybe it was Wesley Snipes' son when he came in dancing? And Wesley Snipes was pretty funny. Beyond that I didn't detect any jokes in the movie - or very few, and what was there wasn't funny at all. Even Randy Watson was played straight for some reason.
I guess given a choice between repeating the sweetness of the original, or repeating the comedy/raunchiness, I'm glad they kept the sweetness/earnestness. A shame it didn't have more humor! And more time in America! I've seen the original a dozen times; doubt I'd watch this one again. Bless 'em though; I assume they had fun making it.
Yes, Wesley Snipes still has his old energy from the looks of it. I hope he does a Blade sequel or something again since he hasn't lost his acting persona like Eddie Murphy has. He seemed a bit tired and less energetic.
The movie felt like a reboot but in sequel form. When I watched the first movie again, I remember Eddie's character didn't want those rose petal girls around so the father banned it yet it's back in the sequel and magically he changed to his father when the first one was about him finding a woman that can think for herself. I also realized the sequel was PG-13 and not rated R like the first one so that's another big turn off.
I won't lie. A couple parts made me chuckle, BUT that doesn't make it a good movie. I was pushing myself to just finish it so if I'm ever asked, I can give a full movie opinion. I generally finish movies I started for this reason. It's a struggle & I squirm, but I do live through it.
I liked the first movie in '88. The direction of this sequel was horrific at best. To me it looks like they wanted a sequel no matter what the storyline was.