America features one of Murphy’s best performances. Not only does he portray Akeem, but has a number of ‘undercover’ roles as an old Jewish man, the aforementioned Randy Watson, and a barber. The movie is also full of stars in starter roles and cameos. A young Cuba Gooding Jr. is one of the barbershop customers, though he simply smiles at the mirror, not a line in sight. Samuel L. Jackson is an armed robber who gets taken out by a mop-wielding Murphy. A pre-ER Eriq LaSalle stars as the Soul Glo-wearing boyfriend of Akeem’s dream girl, Lisa. Even Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy have cameos reprising their Trading Places roles as Randolph and Mortimer Duke
This DVD is part of Paramount’s I Love the 80’s series. Inside the DVD you’ll find a CD with four ’80s tunes from Erasure, INXS, a-ha, and Echo & the Bunnymen. There isn’t much in the way of extras however, save for the original theatrical trailer. The print, however, is crisp and shown in widescreen format.
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