Coming to America

Coming to America

1988

Director: John Landis

Writers: David Sheffield and Barry Blaustein

116 Minutes

There is nothing better than Eddie Murphy walking around the streets of Queens singing Jackie Wilson's, “To Be Loved,” while the neighbors scream obscenities.

Or Eddie Murphy saying, “Good Morning, my neighbors,” while the neighbors scream obscenities. Or Eddie Murphy playing Saul, Randy Watson, Clarence screaming obscenities.

In short, this movie is Eddie Murphy. And we want him screaming obscenities.

Coming to America is about a young prince who rejects his chosen bride, ventures past his kingdom, and finds his Queen…in Queens, New York.

But there is heart to this familiar story. Prince Akeem wants a woman to love him for himself, not for money or fame. Thus, he disguises himself as an average person to find his queen. The elements from hundreds of great stories can be found laced within this romantic comedy.

And it’s brilliant.

In the scene above, Akeem works at a local fast-food restaurant called McDowell’s. When a hold-up man (Samuel L. Jackson) enters to rob the joint, everyone freezes. Everyone except Akeem. Slowly, Akeem loosens his mop handle, excuses himself, and approaches the hold-up man, and this is how it goes down:

It would be wise for you to put the weapon down.
Who the fuck is this asshole?
Please refrain from using any other obscenities in the presents of these people.
What?
I’ve warned you. I’ll be forced to thrash you.
Fuck you.

Akeem thrashes, trips him to the ground, while his friend and loyal subject Semmi (Arsenio Hall) grabs the shotgun and says, “Freeze! You disease rhinoceros’s pizzal.”

Akeem is a hero and only after jacking up Samuel L. Jackson does his Queen-to-Be notice him.

But this is why we go to movies. This is what movies used to be. They were fun. Fun dialog and obscenities. Fun thrashing. And two fun heroes.

In short, we want Eddie Murphy from the 1980’s.

Sadly, we are left with the Eddie Murphy in the 2000’s that brought us Norbit, Pluto Nash, and Doctor Dolittle. He got older. He had kids. And screaming obscenities doesn’t sell in the 2000’s like it did in the 1980’s.

But it should, GOD DAMMIT!

Coming to America is a film that should never be remade. It shouldn’t be studied in film classes, nor frowned upon by a rated-R rating.

It should be enjoyed. Eddie Murphy should be enjoyed. And bathing like the Prince of Zamunda should be enjoyed.

And while you're in the clapping mood, I'd like to introduce my band: Sexual Chocolate.