'Coming to America' remains cultural touchstone 30 years later

Amid the excitement and positive vibes around the Black Panther phenomenon, I thought it would be worth looking back at another beloved mainstream hit that takes place in part in a decadent, fictional African kingdom that also influenced black culture and instilled black pride.

While Black Panther has Wakanda, the 1988 comedy Coming to America has Zamunda, another ode to black beauty and excellence.

It represented in many ways the high water mark of Eddie Murphy's clout as a movie star. He produced the film, penned the original story on which it was based. It clearly had a large budget, employed an almost entirely black cast and featuring incredible dance sequences, elaborate costumes and state-of-the-art make-up effects that still hold up.

The film comes with the usual caveats that many '80s films do -- it has some problematic misogyny (although Murphy's character does ultimately settle down with an independent woman) and some silly notions about how a modern monarchy in Africa might function, but I think it's charms far outweigh its deficiencies.

As an Eddie Murphy fan this film represents his peak as a black icon. He would continue to make predominately African-American films (such as the underrated Harlem Nights, and overrated Boomerang) but this one is his funniest. It's the one the taps into his unique ability as a mimic (see his remarkable performance as the old Jewish man in the legendary barbershop scenes) but also his ability to play a tender leading man.

After years of being a hard ass or comic foil to white people on screen, this movie showed that Murphy had the range to play in a lot of modes that audiences might not have expected from him. He also was able with the brilliant casting and conception of this world create an easily quotable (both visually and dialogue-wise) film for the ages.

Remember the Time

Black America in particular has really embraced Coming to America over the years. It's become our go-to raucous comedy of that era, and I think in part for some of the very same reasons Black Panther has already become a touchstone. It's aspirational, it's beautiful. At no time do the heroes degrade themselves or slip into stereotypes.

Murphy's character is highly intelligent and articulate, even if he is a naive fish-out-of-water in New York City, which is refreshing for a time when Africans were usually being portrayed as nothing more than savage, primitive warriors in much of American cinema up until that point.

And sadly, in the 30 years since it became a smash hit, Hollywood hasn't shown much interest in replicating its formula for success. The one noticeable outlier is Michael Jackson's unforgettable "Remember the Time" music video, which ironically cast Murphy as royalty again, but this time as a stern-faced, disapproving king. Although now, finally, there is talk of a sequel -- which had better star Murphy is some capacity -- he needs a real comeback vehicle!

Coming to America has always occupied a special place in my heart as one of my all-time favorite films. My wife and I bonded over it on one of our first dates. I can act out full scenes from the movie from memory (and often do) ... SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!. And it's a movie I'm always down to re-watch and re-visit since it works on so many levels and yet is a pretty old fashioned romantic comedy when you strip away all the pomp and circumstance.

But what sets it apart and keeps it relevant, is the promise it showed for black potential. Of course, Zamunda and Wakanda aren't real -- but the hope that they someday could be, and that seeing those worlds writ large on-screen might inspire people strive towards that kind of perfection is a wondrous thing and something we need to continue to cultivate.