Coming
to America: Special Collector’s Edition
DVD (Paramount)
Trading Places: Special
Collector’s Edition DVD (Paramount)
Remember when Eddie Murphy was funny? By my count, the last top-to-bottom
great movie he did was Coming to America. In fact, I think the
movie was so good that it not only killed his credibility/career, but
it also took director John Landis with him. Remember their last collaboration,
Beverly Hills Cop 3? Paramount has finally seen fit to reissue
two of Eddie’s best in what unfortunately turn out to be very thin
special editions. Landis is on hand to reminisce and share making-of stories,
but the other actors from Coming to America are missing in action
(at least Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis show up on Trading Places),
as are any substantial extras. Where’s Landis’ commentary?
He’s got nothing better to do these days. Even his shitty Masters
of Horror episodes receive better treatment than these great ’80s
comedies; Eddie’s probably busy making Norbit 2. I guess
we’ll get a triple dip in the next ten years. Groan.
By Nick Hyman
Both: 
07/2007