Coming to America

Eddie Murphy was at the peak of his powers when he made Coming to America, a lavish romantic comedy that let him flex muscles most audiences hadn't seen before. Fresh off the raucous Beverly Hills Cop, Murphy here plays a sheltered African prince who rejects an arranged marriage and heads to Queens, New York, to find a woman who will love him for himself. The film pairs him with Arsenio Hall as his loyal friend Semmi, and together they create a world that feels both fantastical and grounded.

Shot at Astoria Studios in Queens with additional locations around New York City, the film cost $30 million, a huge sum for a comedy at the time. Much of that went into the elaborate Zamunda palace sets, designed by Richard MacDonald and inspired by Moroccan and Saudi Arabian architecture. Deborah Nadoolman Landis crafted the royal costumes, which later earned an Oscar nomination. The result is a film that looks as rich as its protagonist feels.

What makes Coming to America endure is its genuine warmth. Murphy and Hall play multiple roles under heavy prosthetics by Rick Baker, the elderly barbershop regulars, the soul singer Randy Watson, the Reverend Brown, but the heart of the movie is the romance between Akeem and Lisa, played with real charm by Shari Headley. John Amos brings gruff authority as Lisa's father, Cleo McDowell, owner of the fast-food joint McDowell's, a brilliant parody of McDonald's. James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair lend regal weight as Akeem's parents.[edit]

Prince Akeem Joffer turns 21 in the fictional African kingdom of Zamunda, where he has never had to lift a finger. Servants bathe him, dress him, and even wipe his royal backside. His parents present him with an arranged bride, Princess Imani, who has been trained from childhood to obey his every whim. But Akeem wants something real, a woman who will love him for who he is, not for his title.

With his best friend Semmi, Akeem convinces his father, King Jaffe, to let him travel to America to find a wife. The king gives him 40 days. They land in Queens, New York, where Akeem insists they live as poor immigrants to ensure any woman who falls for him does so genuinely. Semmi, who misses the palace luxuries, is less thrilled. They rent a roach-infested apartment in a rough neighborhood, and Akeem takes a job washing dishes at McDowell's, a fast-food restaurant that looks suspiciously like McDonald's.

At McDowell's, Akeem meets Lisa McDowell, the intelligent, ambitious daughter of the owner Cleo McDowell. Lisa is dating Darryl Jenks, a wealthy banker who oozes arrogance. Akeem is immediately smitten. He works his way up from dishwashing to flipping burgers, impressing his coworkers with his humility and hard work. He befriends the regulars at a local barbershop, where an older crew of men offer blunt, hilarious advice on women and life. Meanwhile, Semmi secretly starts spending their hidden fortune, buying a flashy car and expensive clothes, threatening to blow their cover.

As Akeem gets closer to Lisa, he struggles with the lies he has told. Lisa begins to notice the difference between the kind, hardworking Akeem and the pompous Darryl, but she has no idea about his royal background. Tension builds as Akeem's 40 days dwindle, and King Jaffe grows impatient. The prince must decide whether to reveal his true identity and risk losing Lisa forever, or continue the charade and lose her anyway.[edit]