Coming to America is a 1988 comedy film, directed by John Landis. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry. Coming to America is the first of several films in which Murphy plays multiple characters.

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Plot

Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy), the prince and heir to the throne of the fictitious African country Zamunda, is discontented with being pampered all his life. The final straw is when his parents (James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair) present him with a bride-to-be (Vanessa Bell) he has never met before, trained to mindlessly obey his every command.

Akeem concocts a plan to travel to America to find a wife he can both love and respect and who accepts him for his personality, not his status. He and his servant & friend Semi (Arsenio Hall) arrive in Queens County, New York, and after several scrapes, find an apartment in the neighborhood of Jackson Heights. They begin working at a local restaurant called McDowell's (the restaurateur's attempt to copy McDonald's) passing themselves off as students. When he first meets Akeem and Semi, owner Mr. McDowell (John Amos) explains all the minute differences between his place and McDonald's, ending with the line, "They use the sesame seed bun. My buns have no seeds."

Akeem falls in love with Lisa (Shari Headley), Mr. McDowell's daughter, who possesses the qualities the prince is looking for. The rest of the film centers on Akeem's attempts to win Lisa's hand in marriage, while adjusting to life in America and dodging his royal duties and prerogatives. Unfortunately, Semi is not comfortable with the life of a poor man and thus unintentionally causes a near-disaster when, alerted by a plea for more financial help, the Zamundian royal family travels to the United States. Lisa learns that Akeem is actually a prince and is at first angry and confused as to why he lied to her about it. At this point, she refuses to marry Akeem and Akeem returns to Zamunda with a broken heart. At the end, we see Akeem about to wed a bride who he discovers is Lisa. They ride off in a carriage after the ceremony.

Cast

Actor	Role
Eddie Murphy	Prince Akeem Joffer / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
Arsenio Hall	Semi / Morris / Reverend Brown / Ugly Girl
James Earl Jones	His Majesty (HM) King Jaffe–Joffer of Zamunda
John Amos	Cleo McDowell
Madge Sinclair	Her Majesty (HM) Queen Aoleon of Zamunda
Shari Headley	Lisa McDowell
Paul Bates	Oha
Eriq La Salle	Darryl Jenks
Frankie Faison	Landlord
Vanessa Bell	Imani Izzi
Louie Anderson	Maurice
Allison Dean	Patrice McDowell
Sheila Johnson	Lady–in–Waiting
Jake Steinfeld	Cab Driver
Calvin Lockhart	Colonel Izzi
Samuel L. Jackson	Robber
Vondie Curtis-Hall	Basketball Game Vendor
Don Ameche	Mortimer Duke
Ralph Bellamy	Randolph Duke
Garcelle Beauvais	Rose Bearer
Cuba Gooding, Jr.	Boy getting haircut in barbershop
Clint Smith	Sweets

Production

Coming to America reunited star Eddie Murphy with director John Landis. The two had previously worked together on the comedy hit Trading Places (1983); however, Landis later recalled the differences in working with Murphy on the two movies: "The guy on Trading Places was young and full of energy and curious and funny and fresh and great. The guy on Coming to America was the pig of the world — the most unpleasant, arrogant, bullshit entourage...just an asshole. However, Eddie is brilliant, and he and I have always worked together well; there’s never been an issue created. On Coming to America , we clashed quite a bit because he was such a pig; he was so rude to people. I was like, “Jesus Christ, Eddie! Who are you?” But I told him, “You can’t be late. If you’re late again, I quit.”

We had a good working relationship, but our personal relationship changed because he just felt that he was a superstar and that everyone had to kiss his ass. He was a jerk. But great – in fact, one of the greatest performances he’s ever given. The character he plays in Coming to America , Akeem, is so opposite of what Eddie really was: a gentleman, charming and elegant, as opposed to this jerk-off. Someone, I think it was James Earl Jones, used to say that when Eddie came on set, “It’s like an arctic wind.” I mean, he wouldn’t do his off-camera for people; it was bullshit. But I still think he’s wonderful in the movie." ^[1] Despite the experience, Landis and Murphy collaborated again six years later on Beverly Hills Cop 3 .

Coming to America features Murphy and Arsenio Hall in several different roles, which following the success of this film, became a Murphy staple. Hall plays Reverend Brown, who introduces Randy Watson (Murphy) and his band Sexual Chocolate, who perform "Greatest Love of All" at the Black Awareness Rally. Randy Watson is introduced as having portrayed Joe the Policeman in the "What's Goin' Down" episode of That's My Mama. In the barbershop scenes, Murphy and Hall play elderly barbers Clarence and Morris, who engage in furious debate with Saul (played by Murphy) about the boxing skills of Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. One scene includes Cuba Gooding Jr., who does not speak, and the barber scenes are notable because Murphy plays both Akeem and Clarence simultaneously (seemingly giving himself a haircut). Murphy also plays the old Jewish man in the barbershop who calls Akeem "Kunta Kinte," referring to the Roots character made famous by LeVar Burton; co-star John Amos played the adult Kunta Kinte later in the Roots series. Hall also plays an ugly woman who comes on to Akeem and Semmi at a nightclub. Sitting next to Akeem, she tells him "I wanna tear you apart," then looks over at Semmi and says "and your friend, too." Akeem frowns at the suggestion while Semmi spits out his drink.

Famed South African chorus Ladysmith Black Mambazo, sings Mbube during the opening sequence (the song also known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight in America). The group has gone on to record several different versions of Mbube ; however, the version heard in Coming to America has not been released on its soundtrack or on CD as of 2006.

John Landis' calling card/easter egg, See You Next Wednesday, appears on a science-fiction movie poster in the subway station after Lisa storms off the train.

Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche reprise their roles as the Duke brothers from another Landis and Murphy collaboration, Trading Places . Randolph and Mortimer Duke lost their enormous fortunes in that film. In this film, the two men are now homeless and living on the streets. Akeem gives them a paper bag filled with money, which they gratefully accept and exclaim "We're back!". A portion of the Trading Places score can be heard during the Bellamy-Ameche cameo. Trading Places is again referenced as the royal entourage leaves the Waldorf-Astoria in the final New York-based scene in the movie: the driver of Akeem and Semmi's limo is played by the same actor who played the Dukes' driver in Trading Places (from whom Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) seeks counsel when the Dukes pick him up after bailing him out of jail).

King Jaffe, played by James Earl Jones, comes to America looking for his son after receiving a request for more money from Semmi. He goes to McDowell's and when asked by Lisa's father if he would like him to inform Akeem that his father had arrived, he responds with, "No, do not alert him to my presence. I will deal with him myself," which are similar to lines delivered by Jones as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

A promotional song for the film, also titled Coming to America , was written and performed by The System.

McDowell's

In the movie, the restaurant is owned by Cleo McDowell (John Amos) and based in Queens, New York. ^[2] It is under investigation from the McDonald's Corporation for allegedly copying their franchise. At one point, McDowell confronts a photographer shooting outside the restaurant, whom McDowell believes is working to gather evidence for McDonald's. The logos and typeface are extremely similar, including the names of the dishes: the "Big Mac" becomes the "Big Mick" - Mr. McDowell explains that "They both contain two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions. But they use a sesame seed bun. My buns have no seeds." McDowell, in describing the differences between his logo and McDonald's, explains, "They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs." Later in the film, when McDowell is first confronted by King Jaffe Joffer, he is seen reading a McDonald's Operation Manual.

Upon arriving in America, Akeem and Semmi get jobs at McDowell's, and it is through his employment there that Akeem first meets Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley), Cleo's daughter.

Because of the name similarity, the film's producers had to obtain permission from McDonald's before using the name McDowell's. During production, the owner of a nearby McDonald's restaurant threatened a lawsuit, not knowing this was a movie. The location of the restaurant is Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, Queens, as specified accurately in the movie. The building is now a Wendy's restaurant. ^[3]

Reception

The film, released on June 29, 1988 in the United States, was a commercial box-office success, both domestically and worldwide.

The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Makeup by Rick Baker, who designed the makeup effects both Murphy and Arsenio Hall's multiple supporting characters. The film currently holds 66% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes critic website.

Soundtrack

Released on LP, cassette and CD.

Side A:

#Coming To America — The System (3:49) #Better Late Than Never — The Cover Girls (4:02) #All Dressed Up (Ready To Hit The Town) — Chico DeBarge (4:50) #I Like It Like That — Michael Rodgers (4:01) #That's The Way It Is — Mel & Kim (3:25)

Side B:

#Addicted To You — Levert (3:54) #Comin' Correct — J.J. Fad (3:56) #Livin' The Good Life — Sister Sledge (3:46) #Transparent — Nona Hendryx (3:50) #Come Into My Life — Laura Branigan & Joe Esposito (4:42)

Lawsuit

The film was the subject of the Buchwald v. Paramount civil suit, filed by Art Buchwald in 1990 against the film's producers on the grounds that the film's idea was stolen from a 1982 script that Paramount had optioned from Buchwald. Buchwald won the breach of contract action and the court ordered monetary damages. The parties later settled the case before an appeal. ^[4]

References

1. The Collider Interview: John Landis, Part II
2. Coming to America Filming Locations
3. McDowell's from Eddie Murphy's Coming to America, Now a Wendy's
4. Thane Rosenbaum wrote, "In 1995, the syndicated columnist Art Buchwald prevailed after a seven-year legal battle against Paramount Pictures, claiming that he had submitted the idea, and the original script, for the Eddie Murphy film, ''Coming to America'', without ever being properly compensated or acknowledged for his efforts. The trial court eventually agreed with Buchwald, although the damage award that he received was considerably less than what he had sought, and even less than what he eventually had to pay out in legal fees. ''The Myth of Moral Justice'', page 182.