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Movies / On DVD / Coming to America
Coming to America

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Coming to America (1988)

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Reviews Counted:5

Fresh:0

Rotten:5

Average Rating:2.5/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 40 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: This fantastical fairy tale stars Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem, a pampered African prince who is yearning to be self-sufficient in his extremely opulent society, where his every whim is catered to.... This fantastical fairy tale stars Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem, a pampered African prince who is yearning to be self-sufficient in his extremely opulent society, where his every whim is catered to. When Akeem turns 21 he defies the wishes of his kingdom and refuses to marry the beautiful bride who has been chosen for him. Instead, he sets out for America to find true love with his trusty sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall). Determined to appear common, the pair arrive in Queens, New York, and quickly have to adapt to a world where they are no longer royalty and can't seem to find a modern woman who suits the prince's tastes--until he meets Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley), the lovely daughter of Cleo McDowell (John Amos), who owns McDowell's restaurant, a fast-food restaurant suspiciously like McDonald's. Akeem and Semmi get jobs at McDowell's and set about charming the unsuspecting Lisa. As the romance blossoms, Akeem has an increasingly difficult time hiding his true identity, especially when his royal parents (James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair) and their entourage arrive in New York, eager to return their only heir to Africa. John Landis's comedy is an intelligent, funny movie that shows off the myriad talent of Murphy and Hall. [More]

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley, Cuba Gooding

Director: John Landis

Director: John Landis

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Release:

Mar 9, 1999

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Reviews for Coming to America

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1 - 5 (sorted by date)
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The director is ... rather distracted; John Landis seems to be browsing through the scenes rather than gobbling them down.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
06/06/09
Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
10/18/08
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
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A screenplay that seems to have escaped its doctors before it was entirely well.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
New York Times
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The main pleasure in America comes in the romancing of prince and pauper. But the comedy is a mere handmaiden.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
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In Landis' hands, the film doesn't live up to even the meagerest of expectations.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
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