Are you like me when you watch a movie multiple times and start asking questions that are fun to ponder? Here’s a few that popped into my head at a recent theatrical viewing of Coming to America:
- What if the coin flip led Akeem and Semmi to Los Angeles instead of NYC?
Obviously, this doesn’t work for the storyline. Let’s hope no one in Hollywood is thinking about a reboot and that’s the cute twist they put on it. Actually, let’s not reboot this in my lifetime. - How many people believe Zamunda is a real place?
I’ll say 50%. - Bigger 80s glasses: James Earl Jones or Larry King?
Have to go King but James Earl Jones’ glasses are pretty huge. - Was Jake Steinfeld really worthy of being in the opening credits?
He was the Cab Driver. He had maybe three lines. Hollywood. - Was Randy Watson’s mic drop after his request for applause for Sexual Chocolate the birth of the mic drop?
I’m not the only person wondering where the mic drop originated from. In 2013, Forrest Wickman wrote about it for Slate. Based on this read, I’ll give the hat tip to Eddie Murphy (maybe it was Delirious, maybe it was Coming to America) but there’s probably an ’80s rap song origin missing. There’s an allusion to Janis Joplin dropping the mic after a live performance in 1967 on a forum I skimmed. Maybe the mic drop needs a Wikipedia page. - Did Lisa, Patrice and Darryl cheer both teams scoring baskets in the St. John’s game they attended?
Guess I have to watch it again for that one. - Is there any doubt a Trading Places II would have been made if Coming to America came out in the 2010s?
We’re in sequel hell now and I can’t imagine a Trading Places II doesn’t get made in 2015. - Wait, this was the 80s, where was Coming to America: The Series?
Apparently, there was a pilot starring Tommy Davidson as Prince Tariq. You know, because the TV versions have to have that little twist. Can’t imagine why this didn’t become a big hit. - Did NYC subways really have that much graffiti in the 80s?
I’m calling shenanigans here. Granted, my only 80s NYC experience was a grade school field trip to Manhattan and we went nowhere near a subway (we did go to a McDonald’s though) but in order for there to be that much graffiti, at some point during the lengthy subway scene we should have seen someone painting graffiti on the wall. - Was there ever a young Samuel L. Jackson?
Jackson has aged incredibly well, hasn’t he? I met Samuel L. Jackson in New York during another visit at the Virgin Megastore. When I say met, I walked by him and nodded hello because what the hell do you say to Samuel L. Jackson? - Who’s the greatest of all-time?
The argument about the greatest boxer of all-time in the barber shop isn’t the “greatest of all-time” I’m asking about. Who’s the greatest stand-up comic turned big screen actor of all-time? Eddie Murphy has to be in the conversation. My Top 5: Murphy, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Martin Lawrence. - Where’s the spoon?
AHA! AHA!!!!!