Just like Hudson Hawk. There is mysticism and weird logic in this film. I thought there were funny moments from Eddie, but it was too weird of a plot. The film is visually impressive, but it's not enough.
shareI suppose you could throw Big Trouble in Little China in the mix as well.
shareBig Trouble is an apt comparison/contrast
That film was originally intended to be a pastiche of mysticism, Wild West tropes and campiness, and it delivered exactly as intended, which is why it still has a huge fanbase to this day.
Golden Child was originally intended to be a lot more serious, and I believe it was actually filmed that way, but didn't play well with test audiences. So they did reshoots to add almost all of the seemingly improvised Eddie Murphy trademark humor.
The result is uneven, because it was never intended to be a comedy. Not with kidnapped kids' blood cooked into oatmeal ... that sorta thing just isn't funny.
I had never considered The Golden Child as a serious movie, but that does change my perception to think about it as such.
I was a teen watching this as just another silly Eddie Murphy movie. I found it funny then and now.
It certainly could work as a serious crime drama if done right.