Monthly Classic Movie Review

I thought I would start a monthly movie entry to my blog. I have quite the collection of DVDs and have watched every single one of them at least twice. Movies are a very important part of my life. The list is over 300 DVDs and growing. The first of these entries belongs to one of my favorite comedies: Coming to America. Before Eddie Murphy donned a fat suit to play Sherman Klump and family, he was made up to be not only an old, foul-mouthed New York Barber, but an old Jewish man as well! That, along with a few other characters, makes for a movie makeup extravaganza! He shines as the main character: Akeem Joffer, the Prince of Zamunda, showing a kind and refined character. Arsenio Hall is the co-star, playing almost as many roles as Murphy, each one to silly perfection. His Reverend Brown is a character for the ages. The two funniest scenes are thus: at the beginning of the movie, Prince Akeem is being wed to the bride the King and Queen have chosen for him. As she begins to walk down the aisle with every eye fixed upon her, the King's servant Oha quietly steps forward, his face strait as an arrow, and breaking the silence, begins singing in a high voice: She's your Queen to be!, his face contorting with emotion; finishing his song, his face returns to its strait arrow state as if nothing happened. The second favorite scene is toward the end of the movie. The Prince and the woman he truly desires to marry, are pushed away from eachother and an argument takes place at her father's home. As the film cuts between the different parties associated in the argument, the father's dog sweeps her head left and right, following right along with it. After a funny quip from the Queen to the King, the dog looks to the audience, in perfect Oliver Hardy fashion. One of the best uses of an animal in film, in my humble opinion.
Aside from one scene of gratuitous nudity, and a plethora of obscene language, this movie is a touching, warm, very funny comedy that will always be funny, no matter how many times you watch it. Delight as you watch a young Louie Anderson, working in a fast food restaurant, fantasize his rise to assistant management, and the "big bucks" that come with it. Observe with wonder the way the make-up allows for Eddie Murphy to create many characters that are completely believable. Watch as the most powerful voice in Hollywood history - James Earl Jones - becomes not only the exalted ruler of the land of Zamunda, but the master of all he surveys. I for one wouldn't argue with him on that! There are so many great characters in this movie. You are bound to like at least one of them! As Eddie Murphy as Saul, the elderly Jewish man says(complete with Jewish accent): Aha! Aha!