MovieChat Forums > Coming to America (1988) Discussion > One of Murphy's best films

One of Murphy's best films


Definitely along with 48 Hours, Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cops. The best film from Murphy's 80's run. Also the one with a lot more heart to it then many remember. With Murphy at his very best, with a run of funny characters and also playing the romantic lead. It probably has some of the funniest moments from his canon.

I don't know if I say it touches the three films above, definitely think Trading Places is Murphy's funniest film. But this film for me is in his top 5 best films, haven't seen the sequel yet and with how the world is so different now I can't imagine a lot of stuff that happens in the first film will fly in todays world.

So many great moments like Randy Waston/Reverend Brown scene, Anything in the Barber shop, Cleo Mcdowell who I find funniest character the more I watch it. Soul Glow music and advert still makes me laugh (the soundtrack by Nile Rodgers is great too). I definitely think it's the best work of Arsenio Hall's career. I do think the film loses it way in the third act a bit when the romance comes more to the fore, even though I like Shari Headley as Lisa Mcdowell and also Allison Dean as the younger sister Patrice is great. I think the laughs become less and less as the ending nears.

But still one of my favourite Murphy films, and that's why I'm a little worried about watching the sequel in that it will ruin the memories of this film. Definitely John Landis last great film in his golden run as a director.

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In my opinion his best movie.

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It’s a masterpiece. Murphy is not only hilarious, he plays a very unique character who truly radiates the ‘glow’ that Lisa falls in love with.

It combines a great traditional farcical class comedy structure with Murphy off the leash, playing multiple characters. John Landis juggles all the elements with incredible skill.

His absence was painfully felt in the sequel, which is a nice reunion but a weak film. I don’t consider it canon, just a curious bonus, but it doesn’t detract from watching the classic original.

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Real comedy, with heart. Kind of rare, actually.

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