Arthur 2: On the Rocks/Short Circuit 2/Coming to America/A Handful of Dust/License to Drive

Gene Siskel - Host: [reviewing "Coming to America"] Good comic cameo material in this thoroughly satisfying movie.

Roger Ebert - Host: Well, I was also impressed by Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in terms of what they did on the screen. I thought that both of them showed an enormous range of comic ability.

Gene Siskel - Host: Right.

Roger Ebert - Host: What surprised me, though, Gene, was the screenplay.

Gene Siskel - Host: Why?

Roger Ebert - Host: First of all, this plot is SO old-fashioned, and so hackneyed, and so recycled out of a hundred other fairy tales and movies, and I was waiting to see what kind of twist or spin Eddie Murphy was gonna put on it, and there isn't any. And the second thing is, the energy level of the movie is too low. This is the first Eddie Murphy movie I've ever seen that can accurately be described as lethargic.

Gene Siskel - Host: Oh, I didn't think...

Roger Ebert - Host: I mean, you talk about how he's sweet and laid back, I think he was TOO laid back. I wanted to see Eddie Murphy take this prince and NOT play him so straight and so sweet, but give him a little bit of an edge.

Gene Siskel - Host: Well, I'll tell you, I think Eddie Murphy, by his very nature, can't help but give a character his edge, I think he's got energy inside him, but I think it's a romantic lead, he goes back to old-fashioned style movie making, and I thought it was perfectly handled. This is just the movie that I wanted to see.

Roger Ebert - Host: You want to talk about the romantic lead, it really IS old-fashioned.

Gene Siskel - Host: Yes.

Roger Ebert - Host: Because there is nothing new-fashioned about this relationship...

Gene Siskel - Host: And I liked it.

Roger Ebert - Host: And the whole idea of judging women on the basis of just their physical appearance and their external qualities...

Gene Siskel - Host: Oh, that's sweet the way he comes off. I bought the whole thing,

Roger Ebert - Host: Oh, well, I think that in 1988...

Gene Siskel - Host: Did you like the movie, or not?

Roger Ebert - Host: No.

Gene Siskel - Host: But you like, you like what both of the leads did...

Roger Ebert - Host: They're both talented guys, give 'em a screenplay.

Gene Siskel - Host: I think they got one.

Roger Ebert - Host: See what they can do with it.

Gene Siskel - Host: They did a great job with it.