Coming To America DVD
Paramount Studios
Rated: R
Genre: Comedy
Length: 114 minutes
Director: John Landis
Year: (1988)
Britt Gillette's Coming To America DVD Review
Eddie Murphy continued a string of 1980s Hollywood blockbusters with his 1988 comedy Coming To America. As far comedies go, this is a must see film with witty, timeless hilarity on full display.
When Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy), heir to the royal throne of Zumunda, reaches the age of marriage, he is introduced to the woman who has been bred from birth to be his wife. But when Prince Akeem raises objections about the marriage to his father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), King Joffer agrees to delay the marriage while Akeem takes a trip abroad to "sow his wild oats".
Desperate to avoid an arranged marriage, and find a woman who he loves and who loves him for the right reasons, Prince Akeem reveals his plan to his servant, Semmi (Arsenio Hall). Semmi agrees to travel abroad and assist Akeem in finding a wife he can respect for her intelligence and will. Spinning a globe, Akeem's finger lands on the best place in the world to find a queen - Queens, New York.
Arriving in the middle of Queens, Akeem and Semmi settle into a rundown apartment complex in the ghetto and set about meeting as many women as possible. When their search is fruitless, an older man suggests they go to church to meet some good girls. While at a church gathering, Akeem's eye falls on Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley), daughter of Cleo McDowell (John Amos), founder of the Queens fast food establishment McDowell's (which bares an uncanny resemblance to the fast food restaurant McDonald's). Unfortunately, Lisa is dating Darryl Jenks, heir to his father's hair supply business and the most eligible bachelor in town according to Lisa's father and sister Patrice (Allison Dean).
To get closer to Lisa, Akeem takes on a job at McDowell's where fellow employee Maurice (Louie Anderson) fills him in on the bright future beheld by a McDowell's employee. Forcing Semmi to work alongside him at McDowell's, Akeem and Semmi help foil a gunman (Samuel L. Jackson) who attempts to hold up the store. As Lisa and Akeem develop a relationship, her father disapproves - seeing Akeem as a dead-end immigrant with no future.
When Semmi makes yet another request for King Joffer to send money, the King and entourage personally travel to New York to hunt for Prince Akeem. Cleo McDowell does a complete 180 when he realizes the wealth and power in the hands of his soon-to-be-son-in-law, but a union between Lisa and Akeem is bitterly opposed by King Joffer. He remains committed to bringing Akeem home where he marry the woman arranged for him at birth. But in the end, only Akeem and Lisa will decide who gets married to whom…
An ingenious and utterly entertaining comedy, Coming To America ranks highly as one of Eddie Murphy's best films (if not his best). Only Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours come close to dethroning Prince Akeem and his search for a worthy bride. This is essential viewing for any comedy lover…
Britt Gillette
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Posted on 7 December 2004