The comedy Coming to America is about an African prince in the role of a commoner looking for love. This legendary work of art was partially filmed in Queens. The cult movie has won the hearts of millions of people thanks to its extraordinary characters, interesting plot and bright quotes. Read more about it on queens-trend.
PLOT
A wealthy African prince Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) leads a pampered lifestyle and servants obey him daily. At a certain point, he gets tired of such a life. Moreover, his parents wish him to marry a woman whom he has never seen and who is trained to obey the prince. This becomes the last straw.
Akeem goes to the US undercover with his friend. He wants to find an intelligent, independent woman who will love him for more than his wealth and who he will respect. They come to Queens pretending to be poor foreign students and get a job at a local fast food establishment.
Akeem soon falls in love with Liza, the daughter of the restaurant owner. Attempts to win her heart are complicated by Lisa’s boyfriend. Then, Lisa breaks up with him and starts dating Akeem. The royal family is going to the US to pick up their son. Lisa finally learns the truth about the status of her lover and indignantly refuses to marry him. Desperate, he returns to his homeland, where a surprise awaits him…
FILM LOCATIONS
Most of the scenes were filmed in New York and Los Angeles. Both metropolises are known for their bustling streets, world-famous sights and diverse cultures. While the interior scenes were mostly shot at the Paramount Pictures studio, the outdoor ones were filmed in Queens and Brooklyn.
The McDowell’s restaurant, where the main hero worked, was filmed on Queens Boulevard, in a branch of the chain of fast food restaurants Wendy’s. McDowell’s was uncannily reminiscent of the real McDonald’s. It was used as a restaurant until 2013. Then, it was demolished and replaced by an apartment building. The Queens baseball stadium, Citi Field, can also be seen in the movie.
When Akeem and Sammy first arrive in the US, they are settled in an abandoned apartment in Queens. However, it was actually located in Brooklyn. Many of the film’s locations, such as the barber shop and the subway station, were also shot in Brooklyn.
If you want to take a trip down memory lane and see what America’s big cities were like in 1988, Coming to America will definitely help. You will not only be able to see how much has changed but also explore the hidden gems of each city.
WHAT IS THE PHENOMENON OF THE MOVIE?
This movie was a huge commercial success both in the US and around the world. The film brought its creators $21.4 million during the first 5 days after release. In total, it grossed more than $288 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing movie of the year. It also cemented Murphy’s status as one of Hollywood’s greatest stars. Critics praised it for its humor, well-chosen heroes and touching plot. It was nominated for two Academic Awards, for Best Makeup and Best Costume.
The movie is a true masterpiece due to the incredible performance of the actors, as well as because of the amazing costume and set design.
The film is full of cultural hints. It depicts African traditions and debunks stereotypes about the African American community. The valuable details make the story deep and demonstrate the desire of the creators to represent African culture as best as possible. This success influenced further comedies. It highlighted the importance of showcasing cultural and ethnic diversity and representing talent of black people in the film industry.
The movie explores the themes of love and identity. It is imbued with the idea of following your heart and embracing yourself, which resonates with audiences on a deep level. The comedy skillfully harmonizes with sincere and touching moments. Topics of love, family and self-discovery are interesting for all people. The film’s depiction of the immigrant experience also played a large role in its popularity. Millions of residents of the US and other countries recognize themselves in the main hero, who leaves the usual world to find a novel life.
The movie’s quotes are still popular. Prince Akeem’s confession of feelings and the ‘wisdom’ of the characters in the barbershop became part of pop culture.
Therefore, this movie greatly influenced the comedy genre, inspiring other films that attempted to combine humor with a moving narrative. Its success was followed by more culturally diverse Hollywood films.
8 INTERESTING FACTS
- Eddie Murphy plays four different heroes, namely Prince Akeem and three other characters such as barber Clarence. It demonstrated the versatility and comedic talent of the actor. He sat for hours in a make-up chair to transform into different characters.
- The film’s director, John Landis, quarreled with Eddie. According to him, the actor had a stardom disease and began to behave arrogantly. The two men did not get along well during the filming process and Murphy vowed that they would never work together again. After 6 years, two movie icons reconciled and reunited for another comedy Beverly Hills Cop III.
- The screenplay was written by Murphy and developed by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein. However, writer Art Buchwald sued the filmmakers and Paramount Pictures, claiming they had stolen the concept from his own screenplay written years earlier. Buchwald did win a breach of contract lawsuit but the studio refused to pay millions in compensation. After 4 years of litigation, he received only $150,000.
- Akeem’s luxurious royal palace was shot in a mansion in California. It served as the perfect place for the fictional African kingdom.
- The film has several cameos or episodic appearances of famous celebrities. This includes Samuel L. Jackson as a robber and Eriq La Salle as a brothel worker. This approach created an additional pleasant impression for the audience. Legendary musicians Michael Jackson and Prince were also supposed to make cameo appearances. It didn’t happen due to their busy schedules.
- The movie influenced the fashion trends of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Thoughtful and colorful costumes in the African style have inspired many designers all over the world.
- The film features a fictional advertisement for the Soul Glo hair product. This is a mockery of the typical flashy ads for current hair care products.
- It was almost turned into a TV series. In an attempt to capitalize on the success of the popular film, Murphy and Paramount Pictures tried to create a television series about Prince Tariq in 1989. According to the plot, Akeem’s younger brother was sent to the US college. They managed to shoot only the pilot episode and abandoned this idea because of unfavorable reviews.
