When it comes to living legends in Hollywood, there are few whose careers rival that of the one and only Eddie Murphy. The award-winning comedian and actor has been a force in the entertainment industry for decades with a long resume of renowned credits. He has led box office franchises beverly hills police, 48 hours.And Dr. DolittleMaking the masses laugh with standalone films like trading place And Harlem Nights. However, there is one film in particular that many will consider his best comedy to date, and it celebrates 38 years since it was first released in theaters.
‘Coming to America’ premiered on June 29, 1988
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In the summer of 1988, Murphy launched the cult classic coming to America In theaters June 29. The film tells the story of young prince Akeem Joffre (Murphy) who seeks love in America while breaking with the cultural traditions of his home country, Zamunda. Along with his best friend and personal assistant Semmi (Arsenio Hall), Akeem moves to New York City, where he meets several people who are trying to take advantage of him. However, he also finds his bride-to-be, Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley). Here’s the official synopsis of the film from Paramount:
“Join Eddie Murphy on an unforgettable comedic exploration of the New World. As an African prince, it’s time for him to find a princess… and the mission takes him and his best friend (Arsenio Hall) to Queens, New York. Disguised as a poor immigrant, the pampered prince soon finds himself a new job, new friends, new friends, new enemies, and a lot of trouble. Something Unforgettable Keep an eye out for both Murphy and Hall in cameo roles!”
Is ‘Coming to America’ really Eddie Murphy’s best film?
This may be a bold statement, but I’m comfortable saying coming to America Murphy’s best comedy. From a plot point of view, it is quite unique. While finding love on the big screen is nothing new, Murphy’s idea of a prince from a fictional African country coming to America to find his future queen was certainly nuanced at the time.
Then there is acting. Between Murphy and Hall alone, the two of them portrayed a total of eight different characters, including Akeem and Semi. And each of these characters is hilarious and adds a special, essential flair to the film. It’s hard to imagine how many hours the two men spent in makeup to transform.
As far as cultural influence is concerned coming to America It is one of the most influential films of all time. Even today people refer to the film in everyday conversations. You probably remember the last time you heard someone allude to “sexual chocolate.” And lines like “Just let your soul shine,” and “You lie! You never met Martin Luther the King” are engraved in the minds of many people.
Whereas coming to America It may not be Murphy’s highest-rated film in terms of Rotten Tomatoes (as of publication, it has a Tomatometer score of 71%), it has certainly stood the test of time among moviegoers and remains a staple in cinematic culture. You can watch it on Philo with a subscription, or you can rent it on Prime Video or Apple TV.
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