Coming to America

By VARIETY STAFF

Paramount. Director John Landis; Producer George Folsey Jr., Robert D. Wachs; Screenplay David Sheffield, Barry W. Blaustein; Camera Woody Omens; Editor Malcolm Campbell, George Folsey Jr.; Music Nile Rodgers;; Art Director Richard MacDonald
 
Eddie Murphy
Arsenio Hall
John Amos
James Earl Jones
Shari Headley
Eriq LaSalle
 

Coming to America starts on a bathroom joke, quickly followed by a gag about private parts, then wanders in search of something equally original for Eddie Murphy to do for another couple of hours. It's a true test for loyal fans.

Murphy [credited with the original story] has no difficulty creating a pampered young prince of Zamunda who would like a chance to live a little real life and select his own bride instead of being forced into a royal marriage of convenience. Murphy even makes the prince sympathetic and genuine, complete to his stilted English. He and courtly sidekick Arsenio Hall venture to Queens to find a queen.

Longing for someone to love him for himself, Murphy discovers beautiful Shari Headley and goes to work mopping floors in father John Amos' hamburger emporium to be near her.

She, no surprise, already has a well-to-do, insufferable boyfriend (Eriq LaSalle) that dad is anxious for her to marry. How does a janitor capture the heart of such a maiden?

1988: Nominations: Best Costume Design, Makeup

(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1988. Running time: 116 MIN.