Coming to America (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Paramount     
Release Date: December 1, 2020
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3.5/5

Plot
Prince Akeem of Zamunda upon his 21^st Birthday must marry a woman that was chosen at birth to be his wife.  She has been trained to obey his every command and to see to his every need.  For some strange reason, this doesn’t appeal to him and he wants a wife who is not only beautiful, but intelligent as well.  He decides to find this woman in America and where else should a future King go to find his bride?  Well, Queens, New York!  With his aid and friend Semmi along for the adventure, they get to experience the American Dream of living in the ghetto and working at McDowells, a local knock off restaurant in the likes of McDonalds.

My Thoughts
I remember seeing this film in college and really liking it and the humor holds up pretty well over 30 years later.  The love story is believable, and Murphy does an excellent job in “selling” his role as the Prince.  The one downside is all of the characters that both Murphy and Hall play in the film get very old, very fast.  Granted, this is the first film that Murphy and Rick Baker teamed up to employ this tactic and it was much “fresher” in 1988 compared to today since Murphy & Baker have used that one trick pony one too many times.

Having been released on Blu-ray multiple times, I was surprised this got the 4K treatment. Granted, the sequel was supposed to be coming out this year and due to Covid, who knows when that will finally happen. Regardless, the upgrade to 4K does show increased detail and the colors have a bit more pop. The audio track finally gets an upgrade over the lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 and now has been upped to DTS-HD MA 5.1. While there’s a bit more heft to the sound, it’s not a night and day difference. 

Video 8.5/10

Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)

Special Features:

• Prince-ipal Photography: The Coming Together of America
• Fit for Akeem: The Costumes of Coming to America
• Character Building: The Many Faces of Rick Baker
• Composing America: The Musical Talents of Nile Rodgers
• A Vintage Sit-Down with Eddie and Arsenio
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Steelbook packaging
• UHD +Digital Copy

Conclusion
This film holds up decently well so many years later even if some of the make-up effects and jokes are a bit dated. Maybe I’m partial because I liked them in the 1980s and I’m a fan of Murphy’s work. The upgrade to 4K is a nice plus and the steelbook packaging is quite spiffy.


Reference Review System:
 
 Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Fixed Screen
 Anthem AVM60 Audio/Video Processor
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
 System Controller: URC MX-980
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
 HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
 JL Audio Fathom F110 Subwoofers x 2 (stacked)
JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer x 2 (stacked)

Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner