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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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63 %
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Reviews Counted:35

Fresh:22

Rotten:13

Average Rating:5.6/10

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

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Mar 9, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Coming to America

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21 - 35 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Good comedy romance. Murphy is sincere and the cameos from now-celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson are fun.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

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

No review available.

comment Comment
02/28/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
01/30/03
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

No review available.

comment Comment
12/01/02
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

No review available.

comment Comment
11/18/02
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

No review available.

comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix

One of Murphy's better outings, which admittedly isn't saying much.

comment Comment
10/03/02
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

No review available.

comment Comment
09/16/02
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

It's as entertaining as it gets.

Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | comment Comment
09/10/02
Kevin N. Laforest
Kevin N. Laforest
Montreal Film Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Landis' last great comedy is a true Eddie Murphy-fest.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

To date the high-water mark for Landis's directorial career and it is the best film Eddie Murphy has ever been in.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
21 - 35 (sorted by date)
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