Brian's Thoughts on Movies

It is odd to think of Coming to America as a series.  While I heard rumors about a potential sequel to Eddie Murphy’s big 1988 hit for years, I thought it about as likely as another Austin Powers, or True Lies film.  Comedy sequels often do not work because they are a result of a financial decision as opposed to inspiration.  See Arthur 2, Three Men and a Little Lady, Little Fockers, The Hangover Part II, or one of the endless Police Academy films to name but a few that merely recycle the main beats of the original film. The few that work usually are a result of broader ideas that did not quite make the first film and or further the story or expand the lives of the characters and can exist on their own (a la Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me or Meet the Fockers). Spoilers below for both Coming to America films. Coming to America (1988) Coming to America came out in the summer of 1988.   Eddie Murphy, who had been on Saturday Night Live, standup specials and...

  When I was a kid, I never missed The Dukes of Hazzard.   The show about two cousins in the South dealing with a comedically corrupt local law enforcement and visiting bad guys was loaded with entertaining car chases and jumps.   The cousins’ car,   the General Lee, a red 1969 Dodge Charger with sealed doors, was as much a character as any of the speaking roles.   The first time I ever noticed a continuity error was catching that in some episodes the gear shift was on the floor and in others it was near the wheel meaning they were using lots of cars.   I also usually caught it when footage (especially the jumps) was re-used. The jumps were exaggerated but largely done for real (a car was wrecked after each one).   While the stunts were good the charm of the show came from its characters, and its bluegrass score. My experience with this show got me excited when I first saw the trailer for Gone in Sixty Seconds which had a similar muscle car (a ’67 Mu...