The Golden Child

Feldman/Meeker/Murphy. Director Michael Ritchie; Producer Edward S. Feldman, Robert D. Wachs; Screenplay Dennis Feldman; Camera Donald E. Thorin; Editor Richard A. Harris; Music Michel Colombier; Art Director J. Michael Riva

Eddie Murphy
Charles Dance
Charlotte Lewis
Victor Wong
J.L. Reate
Randall 'Tex' Cobb

A strange hybrid of Far Eastern mysticism, treacly sentimentality, diluted reworkings of Eddie Murphy's patented confrontation scenes across racial and cultural boundaries, and dragged-in ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) special effects monsters, film makes no sense on any level.

Concoction has Murphy as a social worker specializing in tracking down missing children who is recruited to rescue the virtually divine Golden Child. Eponymous character, a so-called perfect child with magical powers of good, has been kidnapped in an overblown opening sequence by an unmitigated villain portrayed by a bearded Charles Dance, who wears a long leather coat like a Sergio Leone baddie.

Much nonsense ensues involving assorted bikers, chop-socky-happy Orientals and a serpentine sorceress.

(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1986. Running time: 93 MIN.

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