Customer Rating: 
Summary: When Eddie was royalty
Comment: - Prince Akeem (to his Chamberlain): "Oha, It is my twenty-first birthday. You think perhaps just once I might use the bathroom by myself?"
- Oha: "Most amusing, sir. Wipers!!"
With this one, Eddie Murphy wanted to try something different, to veer away from his patented wisecracking role for a bit. COMING TO AMERICA is more of a romantic comedy and a fable, about a prince who comes to a strange land to find a bride. And, thanks to a hilarious script and to the cast's terrific performances, we end up with a fish-out-of-water movie which stands the test of time.
Prince Akeem (Murphy), heir to the throne of Zamunda, has had it with his cushy life. Dude strolls on carpets of rose petals flung by beautiful servant women (who also clean his ding dong). He's serenaded awake by a live orchestra. He has minions brushing his teeth for him. And he's tired of all this.
It is Prince Akeem's 21st birthday, and the king had already arranged his marriage. Akeem at last rebels and, to pacify him, the king grants him forty days to go sow his wild oats. And then the marriage will go on.
But Akeem has other ideas. He intends to go looking for his own bride. But where can one find a woman of wit, grace, and culture, someone fit to be a queen? Where else but in Queens, New York?
The movie really takes off once Akeem and his friend Semmi (Hall) land in the seamy side of Queens, as they confront a shockingly different culture. Because Akeem longs to learn what real life is like, he and Semmi pass themselves off as lowly foreign students, rent the rattiest room in the 'hood, and gain bottom-barrelled employment at McDowell's, a fast food franchise eerily resembling another, more famous franchise. And, there, Akeem meets Lisa.
COMING TO AMERICA takes the Cinderella story and tweaks it juuuust a tad. Basically, it's told from the prince's point of view, focusing on his search for his princess. It was a change of pace for Eddie, but he holds up very well, taking on this very different character, who is noble but grounded, open minded and kind yet decisive. As directed by John Landis, this movie turns out pretty foul-mouthed but very, very funny. Much of the humor, of course, derives from the royal prince being exposed to the mean streets of New York. Eddie's so engaging as the royal prince that I couldn't help but cheer as he overcame each hurdle. The romantic elements are very much alive and well. Eddie comes off quite convincing in his gentle wooing of his All-American, modern thinking girl from Queens. And, for once, most of the cusswords aren't coming out of his mouth. Sort of. Eddie does take on an extra, throwaway role which liberally drops the eff bombs.
There's one absolutely Can't Miss moment which happens during Akeem and Lisa's date, and this is a very satisfying callback to Trading Places (Special Collector's Edition). I also enjoyed all the scenes in the barbershop (and, for my money, Sugar Ray Robinson is the all-time pound for pound best boxer).
The cast is rather awesome. Other than Eddie himself, I think that Shari Headley has the most crucial part. John Landis refers to her as the anchor of the picture, and, really, the whole structure would've crumbled if the audience didn't buy into the girl being that beautiful and that charming and intelligent. Shari had a glow about her, and I'll say I crushed on her but big. Arsenio Hall's chemistry with Eddie lends to some good laughs, his creature comfort craving character so much an antithesis of Eddie's. And can you spot the other characters they play? John Amos ("Hello, king!") plays Shari Headley's gruff, mercenary dad and is unexpectedly farcical as he tries to trade on McDonald's name as much as he could without getting sued. Also, keep an eye out for ER's Eriq Lasalle, who proudly rocks his gerry curl (Soul Glo, baby!), and Samuel Jackson, who pops in real quick as an armed robber.
I don't think I have to go into how perfect and regal James Earl Jones is as the King of Zamunda.
Since this is the Special Collector's Edition DVD, there are some okay extras thrown in: Prince-ipal Photography: The Coming Together of America (24 minutes long, and worth watching); Fit for Akeem: The Costumes; Character Building: The Many Faces of Rick Baker (make-up artist); Composing America: The Musical Talents of Nile Rodgers; excerpts of interviews with Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, promoting the film in 1989, in which we learn of Eddie's original title for the movie (I guess it's no surprise that Arsenio, having been a talk show host, hogs the conversation); the theatrical trailer; and the photo gallery.
Eddie Murphy was once a comedy god. Starting with 48 HRS. in 1982 and all the way up to, let's say, The Distinguished Gentleman in '92, I'd call that window of time Eddie Murphy's brightest years, when his popularity just friggin' soared (I think the only skunker within that span was BEST DEFENSE). COMING TO AMERICA, released in 1988, was only one more link in his chain of successes when, back then, we thought this guy could do no wrong. Until, that is, he started putting out stuff like HOLY MAN and THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH. Of course, Eddie Murphy has had a kind of resurgence, what with his segue into kid films and taking on an Oscar-nominated supporting role in Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition). So things were looking up again.
But then he had to go and make NORBIT. Dammit, Eddie!
Every time I watch COMING TO AMERICA, it always startles me how profane it actually is. The lasting impression for me has always been (and, I guess, always will be) of Eddie Murphy at his most graceful and most romantic and of Shari Headley as this beautiful American princess. But NORBIT is pretty awful.
Customer Rating:
Summary: OH EDDIE, WHY CAN'T YOU BRING THIS KIND OF FUNNY ANYMORE?!!!
Comment: Way ahead of its time in story! The acting phenomonal and the cast.... priceless! What more do you need? Eddie Murphy hasn't had anything close to being this funny since Boomerang. The Donkey character in Shrek gives a small glimpse of his comic genius but he made himself into this kids movie dude and closed the door on himself as one of the most sought after comics in Hollywood. John Landis outdoes himself here as I loved this one even more than his classic Blues Brothers movie! The sets are breathtaking and John Amos is hilarious as the Pops to win over. Arsenio has never been better since and that's a real shame. A true Classic!! A+++!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: I watched, I rubbed, I watched again. I am a changed man.
Comment: My priest once gave a sermon that changed my life. After that sermon I rented this movie. Coming to America. We have all made journeys in life, but none as complex and dangerous as Eddie Murphy made one day in the late 20th century.
The director must have been a son of an immigrant as he distinctively captured the dream of every man, woman, and child who has climbed the statue of liberty. Reach the top. Climb with every ounce of strength you have remaining. Two more steps! One more! Now, open the door in front of you! You are now inside the Statue of Liberty's face!
I will live every day as if I were inside the Statue of Liberty's face. Thank you Mr. Murphy. I am finally free.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Comment: Good transfer, good sound, good picture. For a 20 year old movie, it looks very good on Blu-ray.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Coming to America - Blu-ray Info
Comment: Version: U.S.A / Region Free
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-25
Running time: 1:56:48
Movie size: 19,30 GB
Disc size: 23,90 GB
Average video bit rate: 19.74 Mbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Subtitles: English / English SDH / French / Spanish
#Prince-ipal Photography (25 minutes)
#Fit for Akeem: The Costumes of Coming to America (18 minutes)
#Character Building: The Many Faces of Rick Baker (13 minutes)
#Composing America (11 minutes)
#A Vintage Sit-Down with Eddie and Arsenio
#Photo Gallery
#Theatrical Trailers
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