Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)

Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)
by John Landis

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DVD details

Actor: Arsenio Hall, Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair
Director: John Landis
Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled)
Format: AC-3, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 116 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-05
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount

DVD Reviews of Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)

DVD Review: Charming, Kind of
Summary: 3 Stars

COMING TO AMERICA is like enjoying an appetizer, yet the main course never arrives. It's light, it's fun, but when next Thursday rolls around you'll never remember you watched it. Eddie Murphy plays (and plays well) a crown prince from the (fictitious) Kingdom of Zamunda who comes to Queens to "sow some royal oats"; accompanying him is his personal servant (Arsenio Hall). Now we never know how, or why, but the Kingdom of Zamunda basks in exuberant wealth (must be the tourist dollars), so the prince, Akeem, has more money than he can spend. Yet he insists on living a pauper's life (much to the chagrin of his servant), taking a job in a fast food restaurant, where he falls in love with the boss's daughter (Shari Headley is cute as a button).

Yet she doesn't know he's a crown prince, and falls in love with Akeem as he presents himself (a well-spoken janitor). Naturally, the movie builds up to "Identity Time", and the plot moves into the been-there, done-that regimen of heartache, sorrow, stubborn pride--culminating with the patented Cinderella ending.

Murphy and Hall play well off one another, and even create additional roles as regulars in the neighborhood barber shop. (Amusing, to say the least.) James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair are regal as the King and Queen of Zamunda, while John Amos is annoying as the boss/father of the potential bride. Ditto Eriq La Salle. And don't blink or you'll miss cameos by Donna Summer and Samuel L. Jackson. COMING TO AMERICA is charming and quaint--I just can't remember why.
D. Mikels, Author, Walk-On

DVD Review: A blown opportunity.
Summary: 5 Stars

When I was able to get back to America after being stranded for 28 days in Nigeria Africa, I walked onto the set of this movie being filmed. I was so distraught from my trip to Africa, I just wanted to get to my home in Conshohocken Pennsylvania. I had the opportunity to meet Eddie Murphy and did not seize it due to the culture shock I was in. I wrote my first book, "America Huh!", on my harrowing days on the land of Africa and "Coming To America" is mentioned in it. I am glad I have finally added this excellent movie to my personal collection even though it represents a blown opportunity for me.

DVD Review: An overlooked classic...
Summary: 4 Stars

That I past off when it first came out. I don't regret it since I doubt my experience at that time would of allowed me to truly understand the humor. I'm grateful I bought this one.

DVD Review: Thank God!!
Summary: 5 Stars

Someone stole my original copy and this is a must have in my collection.

Good product / Fast Shipping! Will buy from them again.

Thank you!

DVD Review: Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall Excel
Summary: 4 Stars

Shameful confession: watching this "I Love the 80s" edition of Coming to America marked the first time I'd ever seen the movie. Now I consider myself one who's seen more movies than 95% of the general public - but some films just slip me by. In this case I was definitely missing out. I'd always heard Coming to America was hilarious. I now agree. Wholeheartedly.

Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall execute an entire 114 minutes of hilarity that makes you wish both of their careers hadn't derailed to their current positions.

Prince Akeem (Murphy), unwilling to accept the arranged marriage set up by King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) and Queen Aoleon (Madge Sinclair), takes his royal assistant Semmi (Arsenio Hall) to New York to find the smart and strong-willed queen of a wife he desires. With 40 days to complete his objective he goes to the spot in New York that catches his eye: Queens. Choosing to live like a normal American, Akeem and Semmi forsake their royal heritage and take a grimey apartment and a job at the local fast food restaurant McDowell's. Cleo McDowell (John Amos), the restaurant's owner, puts them to work mopping wherein Akeem meets Cleo's strong-willed and activist minded daughter Lisa (Shari Headley). Akeem begins the race against the 40 day clock to win Lisa's heart as she struggles with a sleazy fianc?e-to-be Darryl (Eriq La Salle).

Coming to America uses every given opportunity to make a joke - and not the Kump-styled fart or fat joke - but a smarter "fish out of water" type that actually triggers laughter. The Arsenio Hall and Eddi Murphy combo might be the crown jewel of Coming to America's comedic brilliance. As Semmi grows tired of the pauper lifestyle, Murphy grows ever-infatuated with pursuing Lisa - causing his poor apartment to become not just a necessity but a selling point. How can one verify love when there's a kingdom in the balance?

John Landis coaxed superb performances from an incredible cast.

What made Beverly Hills Cop the beacon of comedy in Murphy's foggy career was the quick turnaround between fast-talking Axel Foley's comedy and the genuinely serious moments. When these two elements mixed properly the movie had you jumping between belly-ripping laughter and rapt attention. Coming to America preserves the last vestiges of this Eddie Murphy comedic styling. However, the formula is slightly changed. In place of fast-talking we have stilted English with an odd pacing that's interrupted not by the beguiling grin of Foley but by the naivete of the African Prince's interactions with a much more informed public. The two parts are altered but the result remains the same: golden Murphy comedy.

Arsenio Hall, oddly enough, feels inserted to serve as comedic relief in a comedy. Usually you put comic relief into a tight thriller or serious drama but I guess it was felt that Murphy's Akeem was slightly too business-minded to fully flesh out a comedic storyline on his own. So they gave us Semmi - and we shouldn't complain. Hall's performance as the discipline-breaking Semmi provides some of the film's most laugh out loud moments.

James Earl Jones as King Jaffre Joffer is spot-on. With such a commanding stature and voice, all jokes about killing rose petal throwers go from mere comedy to hilarity. Noticeably absent for the middle half of the film, Jones gets his marks in early and reminds the world why he's such an iconic actor. It's not just the voice - it's the presence.

Coming to America marks one of Murphy's most diverse listings of performances in one film. Both he and Arsenio stretch themselves across at least 3 characters each without any issues or faltering. Eddie Murphy may have taken this style too far with The Nutty Professor but all of you comedy lovers can take refuge in Coming to America where he nails each and every line.

Man, this movie is so quotable. Final confession: when Samuel L. Jackson burst into the movie there was a minor amused fist pump on my part. I still think it's justified though.

DVD Extra Features:

Beyond an included CD with 4 classic 80s tunes, the new "I Love the 80s" edition of Coming to America doesn't offer much in terms of extras. With your general DVD options of the trailer, audio tracks and subtitles this version of Coming to America is quite scant in terms of extras.

Description of Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)

Coming to America casts comedian Eddie Murphy as pampered African prince Akeem who rebels against an arranged marriage and heads to America to find a new bride. Murphy's regal father (James Earl Jones) agrees to allow the prince 40 days to roam the U.S. sending the prince's faithful retainer Semmi (Arsenio Hall) along to make sure nothing untoward happens. To avoid fortune hunters Prince Akeem conceals his true identity and gets a "Joe job" at a fast-food restaurant. Murphy and Hall play multiple roles and there are innumerable celebrity cameos peppered throughout the proceedings including the Duke Brothers (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) from Trading Places. Coming to America made further headlines when humorist Art Buchwald sued the film's producers for plagiarizing one of his works. Buchwald carried the case to trial where he won a sizeable judgement against the film's producers.System Requirements:Running Time: 116 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:?COMEDY Rating:?R UPC:?097361222943 Manufacturer No:?122294

Half of the characters in this 1988 John Landis potboiler seem to be played either by Eddie Murphy or costar Arsenio Hall, swaddled in elaborate Rick Baker makeup appliances that render them unrecognizable but also weirdly immobile. As a pampered African prince who journeys incognito to Queens, New York, to find a bride who will love him just for himself, Murphy manages to look smug and naive at the same time. There are enjoyable sequences of Murphy's Prince Akeem applying his lordly manner to his new job in a fast-food emporium, and falling for the boss's spirited daughter (Shari Headley), who teaches him how to party down, American style. But the fish-out-water premise is never fully exploited. Star spotters will have a field day locating Cuba Gooding Jr., Donna Summer, Louie Anderson, Vondie Curtis Hall, E.R.'s Eriq La Salle, and Samuel L. Jackson in their minuscule supporting roles. --David Chute

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