Coming 2 America’s New York Change Explains A Missing Character

Coming 2 America doesn’t include Akeem’s Queens landlord, portrayed by Frankie Faison, from the original 1988 movie, but a New York sequence indirectly explains why he’s not around. Mr. Townsend is one of the memorable characters in Coming to America, as his gruff demeanor and opportunistic ways heavily contrast with the smiley demeanor of Eddie Murphy’s protagonist and his best friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall). To explain the character’s absence in Coming 2 America, the filmmakers provide a tragicomic societal commentary about gentrification.

Mr. Townsend appears directly after the first barbershop sequence in Coming to America. He stares menacingly at Akeem and Semmi through a building window, and introduces himself by stating “Ok, now what the f**k do you want?” Meanwhile, the barbershop characters can still be heard discussing Muhammad Ali; a comedic touch to complement the landlord’s aggressive demeanor. As a performer, Faison captures the skepticism of a landowner in ’80s Queens, but then displays all the charisma and charm that he’d later incorporate into his character on HBO’s The Wire, Ervin Burrell. By the end, Mr. Townsend essentially levels up by trading apartments with Akeem, who isn’t pleased that Semmi upgraded their living quarters by purchasing a hot tub. The landlord leaves his personal “shithole” but still remains in a rough part of town.

In Coming 2 America, Akeem and Semmi immediately notice how much Queens has changed when they arrive in New York. Moments after the characters exit a limousine, a wide shot offers a portrait of their now-gentrified former neighborhood. Young white characters happily bike in the streets, a McDonald’s poster is plastered over a large building, and a Fashion Nova store implies that businesses are thriving. Just like that, the sequel subtly hints that Mr. Townsend is no longer a local landowner, as he presumably would have been bought out and then moved on. Coming 2 America has been criticized for recycling humor from the original film, but the initial New York sequence cleverly addresses a cultural shift that surprises Akeem and Semmi, who aren’t seeking a temporary and “poor” apartment this time around.

Coming 2 America’s gentrification sequence subtly reminds audiences of McDonald’s corporate power. In the original film, Akeem lands a job at McDowell’s, a conceptually similar fast-food chain owned by Cleo McDowell (John Amos), who extends his franchise to Zamunda in the sequel. In the new Queens, there’s no sight of any knock-offs, though a Big Mac “with seeds” poster does reference an on-going brand war. The McDonald’s gentrification sequence is also figuratively sandwiched between two comedically-telling sequences. In the first, a white businessman named Calvin Duke (Colin Jost) discusses privilege and nepotism with Akeem’s son, Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler); in the second, Akeem learns that his favorite barbershop has survived over the decades. Coming 2 America’s narrative quickly shifts back to Zamunda, but only after establishing why Akeem’s son is so eager to leave New York for Africa. Ultimately, the sequel underlines the concept that home is where the heart is.

Mr. Townsend’s absence in Coming 2 America makes sense, but a cameo from Faison would’ve benefitted the film. Given the landowner’s knack for small talk and ability to read people, he could’ve become incredibly wealthy over the years. Of course, his brash personality also could’ve led to trouble, certainly in a rough Queens neighborhood. Perhaps the lack of clarity is the point – if late ’80s Queens is dead and gone, then maybe Mr. Townsend remains stuck in the past; a ghost that looms over his changing neighborhood.

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Q.V. Hough
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Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He’s also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

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