Coming to America - A Movie Review

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"Coming to America" is a romantic comedy released in 1988. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein based on a story by Eddie Murphy and directed by John Landis. The movie had mixed reviews. The budget for the film was $39 million; and the box office receipts were $288.8. CAST Eddie Murphy - Prince Akeem, Randy Watson, Saul, Clarence Arsenio Hall - Semmi, Reverand Brown, Morris, Extremely Ugly Girl James Earl Jones - King Jaffe Joffer John Amos - Cleo McDowell Madge Sinclair - Queen Aeoleon Shari Headley - Lisa McDowell Paul Bates - Oha Eriq LaSalle - Darryl Jenks Frankie Faison - Landlord Vanessa Bell - Imani Izzi Louie Anderson - Maurice Samuel L. Jackson - Hold-Up-Man Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy - Mortimer and Randolph Duke (in their roles from Trading Places) Akeem Joffer is prince and heir to the throne of the fictitious country of Zamunda...but he is unhappy. He is tired of constantly being waited on and catered to. He wants to do things himself. On his 21st birthday he is introduced to the woman that will be his queen, Imani Izzi. He asks her what she likes and all she can answer is, "Whatever you like". He does not want someone without a mind of her own. He decides that he will go to America to find a bride. He picks Queens, New York: "What better place to find a queen than the city of Queens." Prince Akeem takes Semmi along with him When they arrive in New York, Akeem wants to stay in the poorest accommodations and dress like other New Yorkers. They will tell people that they are foreign exchange students. When asked where they are studying, he tells them, "The University of New York". At first they look for ladies in bars. That doesn't work. They go to the barbershop; and they are told that they need to go to church for the "good girls". They get invited to a rally that is raising money for the inner city. One woman that comes up to speak catches Akeem's eye. He must meet this woman. He finds out that her father owns a McDowell restaurant; so Akeem and Semmi go there to get jobs. Semmi is not liking the squalid apartment and having to work; but Akeem insists. If you want to find out what is going to happen, you will have to watch this movie. I've seen it about 4 or 5 times; and I find it to be extremely funny. I don't understand the poor reviews from some of the critics. If you like the music in this movie, there is a soundtrack CD available. I give this movie my recommendation. This movie is rated R. Photo Credit: Pixabay