Coming to America: A Royal Anniversary Celebration

Coming to America Premiered on June 29, 1988 – and Became an Instant Classic

By Chris Sabga

Ready to feel old? "Coming to America" is almost 30. It premiered nearly three decades ago, on June 29, 1988. That makes it 29 years old, to be exact, in 2017.

It was an instant classic.

Everyone knows the story by now (and if you don't, see the movie ASAP!): Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is tired of living a lavish lifestyle of resplendent royalty – which includes being bathed by beautiful women and having his shoes tied for him. "I tied my own shoes once!" the domineering King Jaffe Joffer (the great James Earl Jones) confessed to his son. "It is an overrated experience." (I agree!)

But Akeem's problems go beyond baths and shoelaces.

Being the prince of Zumunda, Africa, also means submitting to an arranged marriage. "I want the woman to love me for who I am," Akeem insists, "not because of what I am." Therefore, the Prince of Zamunda declares that he's coming to America to find his bride. "But where," his servant and friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) wonders, "can one find a woman with grace, elegance, taste, and culture? A woman suitable for a king." The answer, of course, is Queens.

Queens, New York, that is.

The prince immediately finds a job in America – as a janitor. He works at a fast food restaurant called McDowell's – not to be confused with McDonald's, you see. "Look, me and the McDonald's people got this little misunderstanding," his new boss, Cleo McDowell (John Amos, "Good Times"), explains. "See, they're McDonald's – I'm McDowell's. They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs. They got the Big Mac, I got the Big Mick. We both got two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions, but their buns have sesame seeds. My buns have no seeds." McDowell's, however, has something McDonald's never will: Lisa (Shari Headley), the boss's beautiful daughter.

As good as Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are in this movie, especially together, James Earl Jones steals every scene as the bombastic King Jaffe Joffer. Madge Sinclair, who portrays Queen Aoleon, is every bit as superb – especially when she stands up to her overbearing but loving husband: "Put a sock in it, Jaffe," she chastises, "the boy is in love." 

Indeed, it's love at first sight for Akeem.

And it was love at first sight for audiences when "Coming to America" premiered in 1988 – and in all the decades since. Not one single person I know dislikes the movie. It's remembered with such great warmth, fondness, and affection. The mere mention of it never fails to elicit a smile from a person's face. Even my own immediate family unanimously loves the film, and we're all very different people in every other way. That's because there's something for everyone in "Coming to America." The performances, characters, writing, and dialogue are all exceptional – and exceptionally hilarious. 

In the 1980s, Eddie Murphy was known primarily for his wisecracking, blue collar, off-color roles in "Trading Places," "Beverly Hills Cop," and "48 Hrs." While those remain cherished classics, "Coming to America" stands out for one reason: its inherent sweetness. Yes, the movie certainly earns its "R" rating with several raunchy jokes and situations, but it's ultimately nice and innocent in a way the others aren't. That is the secret of its success.

Fun Facts:

• Diehard fans of "Coming to America" already know that both Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall portray multiple characters. Their makeup by Rick Baker was nominated for an Oscar that year. Beetlejuice won, which I suppose is understandable, but my heart is with "Coming to America."
• "Coming to America" was Cuba Gooding Jr.'s first film. He plays the boy in the barbershop.
• Look for Samuel L. Jackson in a small role as the robber who holds-up McDowell's.
• Future "E.R." standout Eric LaSalle shows up as Lisa's boyfriend.
• Comedian and future "Family Feud" host Louie Anderson is behind the McDowell's counter as the fry cook.
• Frankie Faison chomps cigars and chews scenery as Murphy and Hall's landlord/slumlord.
• Akeem's fictional homeland of Zamunda in Africa was named after Bob Zmuda, who is best known for his association with Andy Kaufman.
• "Coming to America" contains a great reference to "Star Wars" (Episode IV): King Jaffe Joffer commands: "Do not alert him to my presence. I will deal with him myself." In "Star Wars," Darth Vader orders: "No. Leave them to me. I will deal with them myself." James Earl Jones portrayed both characters. He played Jaffe and provided the voice of Darth Vader.
• There is also a reference in "Coming to America" to Eddie Murphy's earlier film "Trading Places": Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche reprise their roles as Randolph and Mortimer – only this time, they're homeless and penniless. Akeem helps them out by handing them a sizable chunk of cash. Would Murphy's Billy Ray Valentine from "Trading Places" have been so generous? Probably not.

The Silver Screen Surprises of Cuba Gooding Jr.

Silver Screen Surprises Shows You the Money with These Hidden Gems

By Chris Sabga

With the Oscars now behind us, it's easy to wonder where the most recent crop of Academy Award winners – such as Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett – will be a decade from now. What roles will they play? What will their careers look like? Will they still be on top of the Hollywood food chain?

When Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Best Supporting Actor statuette for 1996's "Jerry Maguire," the actor – who famously uttered the line "show me the money!" in his award-winning role – seemed poised to have a big money career.

He probably didn't imagine his post-Oscar trajectory going quite the way it has. Instead of reigning atop the box office, he ended up toiling away in mostly obscure direct-to-DVD movies that gathered dust in video stores, rental kiosks, and bargain bins.

But Cuba Gooding Jr. is an Academy Award winner for a reason: He is an enormously gifted performer with a staggering level of range – no two characters of his are ever the same – and he remains, without exaggeration, one of the best actors in the world.

Here are five "silver screen surprises" from his career, both before and after the Oscar. Some of these went straight-to-video but deserve to be seen by a far wider audience.

Life of a King (2013): Based on the life of Eugene Brown, an ex-con who developed a chess program for inner city high school students, Cuba Gooding Jr. shares the screen with Dennis Haysbert ("24"), LisaGay Hamilton ("The Practice"), and several promising young actors. This particular story is nothing new for Hollywood – you've seen it all before in films such as "Dangerous Minds," "Lean on Me," "Freedom Writers," and "The Ron Clark Story," to name a few – but it never gets old. Cuba, especially, is fantastic. His portrayal of Brown – beaten down and humbled by hardship and past mistakes, but still willing to fight for the right to make a difference – is such a far cry from the arrogant buffoon he played in "Jerry Maguire." This film may not cover any new territory, but it's still incredibly entertaining and inspirational. You'll feel great after watching it. The best part: The real-life Eugene Brown is still teaching kids how to play chess.

Shadowboxer (2005): Before director Lee Daniels became famous for "Precious" and "The Butler," he worked with Cuba Gooding Jr. in what has to be the strangest film of either man's career. How strange? Gooding and Helen Mirren play lovers. Yes, the same Helen Mirren who played the elderly Elizabeth II in "The Queen." If that wasn't enough, Mo'nique and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are also romantically involved. What else can really be said? If that doesn't pique your interest, nothing will. I can't guarantee that you'll actually like this oddity, but you certainly won't forget it.

Dirty (2005): This movie seems to take a few cues from the far more famous "Training Day" – both are about corrupt cops – but Cuba may have actually out-Denzeled Denzel here with a completely a wild, balls-to-the-wall, anything-goes performance that immediately grabs your attention and never lets go. Even though it's been years since I've seen "Dirty," Cuba's crazed character continues to be indelibly etched in my memory.

Judgment Night (1993): Led by Emilio Estevez and also featuring Stephen Dorff, Cuba Gooding Jr. appeared with two other future stars, Denis Leary and Jeremy Piven. The premise: a group of friends take a wrong turn, witness a murder, and then all hell breaks loose. It's a wild ride and one of the most enjoyable and underrated action movies of the '90s.

Coming to America (1988): Everyone has seen "Coming to America." But what most people may not realize is that Cuba Gooding Jr. is in it. He's the boy in the barber shop. Okay, it's hardly a large or important role – his presence certainly doesn't make or break the film. But it's definitely a cool early career highlight for him – not to mention a fun Easter Egg for sharp-eyed viewers to spot and say, "Hey, wait a minute, isn't that...?"