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Goofy, but fun comedy/adventure

"The Golden Child" was Eddie Murphy's first film since his megahit "Beverly Hills Cop". And even though it's not as good as "Cop", it's a fun comic adventure. Murphy stars as a finder of lost children who's assigned a most unusual case. His assignment: to find the title character, a child with mystical powers. This movie could have been titled "Beverly Hills Cop and the Temple of Doom" since parts of this movie plays like a Spielbergian adventure, kinda like an Indiana Jones comedy. It's got comedy with laughs, and adventure with special effects. Lots of fun.*** (out of four)

FUNNY IN SOME SCENES BUT IT`S CERTAINLY NOT THE BEST COMEDY

Eddie Murphy is funny here but the story is so bogus that all it has is Murphy`s name to carry it through. Murphy plays a social worker who specializes in finding lost children, is hired by an tibertian woman to locate an anjelliac child who was kidnapped by demoic forces. I give Eddie Murphy credit he did his best in trying to make something out of a mediocre script with his humor but he should of stayed away from the person(s) who talked him into making this film. After seeing this film i see why Eddie Murphy was anxious to do BEVERLY HILLS COP II a year later and try to regain his box office bankabillty.

Good.

Very funny film. Classic film funny Eddie Murphy of the 80s. I saw when I was a child and I have a good memory. The classic irony of Murphy does not fail, the film is funny, well done. Murphy in the'80s made many films of action that represented for him a way to joke about everything that is dangerous. The result can only be appreciated by some but ii film from 1986 up to now have changed. The atmosphere for a movie of that time is good and the special effects are good for a film of the period. A nice movie to see and enjoy appreciating the taste of ironic Murphy, an actor who has recently disappeared. The final part is anthologies, the likable actor who plays the part of the Tibetan Monk. That's it.

vastly underrated!

I am glad to see that at least one person 9Mr/Ms Gislef) has noticed the dream sequence in this film.The finesse the director has displayed with in that scene in my opinion is worthy of comparison to say David Lynch.Few directors get the 'feel' of a dream and know how to portray.Michael Ritchie has succeeded admirably in conveying a sense of subtle and not so subtle incoherence and ominosity that leaves the viewer unnerved.Also the film has made interesting use of Tibetan mythology to create interesting situations and great comedy.I think this is Eddie Murphy's best film.

A strange role for Eddie Murphy to take at the height of his career.

A strange role for Eddie Murphy to take at the height of his career. While there is a lot of the "Eddie Murphy character," he plays a truly decent person. The rest of the cast is good, particularly the lovely Charlotte Lewis. Her character's beauty and serenity held the tone of the film from getting to be too much Murphy.

Boring and flat

Eddie Murphy is an excellent comic, good at writing, and most of his films have failed to really capture how good Murphy is at comedy - whereas his onstage antics really do.Unfortuently for murphy, this is yet another film full of potential that doesn't capture Murphy as good as he can be. In fact, its hard not to call this film boring and flat film without pointing to the fact that Murphy doesn't seem to try as hard later on in the film then he does in the early stages.The film surrounds Murphy who must rescue the golden child from demons who want to kill him and overthrow the earth. The demons, lead by Charles Dance seem nothing more than cartoon characters - whereas Dance isn't given enough to do, and although he looks great in a long overcoat and gives menancing looks he doesn't really have the same venom as say his character from Last Action Hero.Anyway, the film is kinda dogged down, its too slow - it takes forever to get going - and when it does it slow's down, yet again.Charlotte Lewis, although great to look at, is more wooden than a wooden ship and even her "bondage" scene doesn't even lift it up to any other levels.This is a pretty poor film. Avoid it.Overall 2/10

A man who finds missing children searches for a special child.

I own this title and I think that it should have been strictly a serious type movie but with Eddie Murphy there had to be the occasional crack of a
joke. Overall though, it is a fine movie for people of all ages.

Excellent Movie

Here we have yet another hilarious movie by Eddie Murphy. Unfortunately, the movie critics above perpetuate the general prejudice against comedies (esp. in such institutions as the Academy), and claim it to be "Top candidate for the worst megahit of all time." Obviously they are saying that it was a huge hit, ie. that everyone went to it, and told others to go to it, yet it has no merit whatsover. Don't listen to them. It's a fantastic movie, filled with the type of humor that Murphy has become famous for. - A definate buy if you have ever liked an Murphy comedy.

Jon Monsarrat review: campy without the cult appeal

Unlike "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai", or "Big Trouble in Little China", or "Conan the Barbarian", which are horrible films that have a certain coolness and self-deprecating humor that turn them into cult sensations, The Golden Child is just plain bad.The premise itself is not unworkable, and there are some funny moments. But here the Eddy Murphy "flip attitude" just deflates any feeling of tension or danger in the story. And the special effects are silly enough to do more damage to that tension. The "mystic secrets" of Tibetan Buddhism are lampooned rather than drawn upon to compel.Without a feeling that anything is at stake, or that the characters are faced by real danger, why should we care?Who should see this film:-- big fans of Eddy Murphy who can't help themselves-- I can't think of anyone elseI'll give this film a 4 out of 10 for the occasional joke that worked.

Okay Movie.

I saw this movie on TBS during Dinner and a Movie and they pointed out one hilarious part of the movie and that was that the sounds that girl made in the movie. They sounded incredibly fake. The movie had a predictable premise but I liked the snake lady she was cool to look at. This movie doesn't seem to be a favorite among people and I don't know why. The DVD is okay but still has no good extra features.

eddie your funny

The movie is over all amuzing and well worth watching. The cast seems to work together well and the vilian is perfect. This is one of Eddie's earlier but very funny shows.

Eddie Murphy at his best and brightest. A True Classic

I am very happy to see my fellow Reveiwers totally disregarding everything that Leonard Maltin (and other nitwit critics who wouldn't know entertainment if it bit them on the ...) said and spoke the truth about this classic comedy. This is Eddies best film (followed closely by coming to America and Beverly hills cop) and I beleive it will stay in that position for many years to come.

highly original

This was a highly original decent movie, and a brave move for all those involved. I don't care if it's not the most well put-together movie of all time, the fact that it has Eddie Murphy doing something non-formulaic, and that I don't know what will happen next, makes it a favorite of mine. I wish more movies were as imaginative as this one, rather than the same old formula for entertainment.

Eddie's best movie

I like the good and evil battle. I liked Eddie in this movie better than any movie he has ever done. He wasn't The smart, cocky, know it all he usually plays. He shows heart and a more humble humor. The fact that it shows there are stranger things in Heaven and on earth than we can think of gives me hope.

Golden Child a hit to remeber

This movie is a good movie. If you like Eddie then this is a must see. There were a few things that I would have changed for example the dancing Pepsi can was cute but not for this type of movie. The demon could have been a little more devil like but thats alright I still loved this movie.

Silly

Both funny and ridiculous. Anyone who likes Eddie Murphy will not be disappointed, he is as funny as usual. The silliest part in the film is when the chick is fighting and she happens to get wet, so the rest of the scene is basically a wet T-shirt show because she (of course) is not wearing a bra. I mostly liked the movie because parts of it were actually filmed in Nepal, where I have spent some time, and it was nostalgic to see it again. Some very visually appealing scenes and an interesting plot dispite being a bit nonsensical. The actual golden child is cute and captivating.

Great Murphy flick

Murphy was so popular before this flick came out, somebody wrote at the time, that he could survive if it flopped. "Golden Child" was a commercial disappointment and it did hurt him. To this day, I don't know why.

Murphy is Chandler Jerroll - an LA-based PI with a flip attitude on anything. He's a hero of the city of angels, but he's no angel himself. In short, he is the "chosen one", the foretold hero destined to save the "golden child" from evil. While Jerroll searches LA for lost children, the enchanted golden child rises in spiritual purity in a snowy monastery in the Himalayas. The wicked forces of Sardo Numspar (Charles Dance) invade the monastery and, after overrunning the monks, spirit the boy away in a cage. The boy, it turns out, is one of a line of divine lamas upon whom the world rests, and whom evil must destroy. Dark Forces had already claimed other golden children. With the loss of the "bringer of justice", the death of another golden child will plunge the world into hell. Why Murphy is the "Chosen One" (and who's doing the choosing here?) are subjects the script keeps wisely away from. Instead, what we get is a deft mix of high adventure and comedy. It shouldn't work at all, but Murphy mugs on cue and can handle the preposterousness of the situation - a modern LA guy having to battle the forces of evil. The joke of the flick is that Eddie Murphy is the Chosen One - only a comically refined mind could effectively mix the fun and action like he does. Crude special effects aside, the fantasy mixes well with the comedy, and Murphy's light touch plays well off of the evil Numspar and Charlotte Lewis as Jerrol's love interest. This is simply an underappreciated classic.

Just For the Fun of It

The Golden Child is a quirky combination of action, martial arts, fantasy, comedy and romance. The film takes itself quite seriously, save for Eddie Murphy's character, which is sarcastic and disbelieving of his fish out of water experience. However, there are several excellent action sequences, and overall the film can hold the audiences attention well. The characters are fairly compelling, and the main villain and female lead both add the tone of seriousness to the plot.This movie is very similar to "Big Trouble In Little China" though it takes itself far more seriously, and is geared towards an older audience. Where Big Trouble was very cheesy, Golden Child is more dramatic.Overall, this is a fun romp, and an excellent way to spend a couple of hours for escape and entertainment.

All around fun video

I think what makes this movie great is that it doesnt get much play so when you acualy watach it and see what an awesome movie it is it just makes it that much better, Eddie is great as usual, one of the best scenes is where hes on the plane and singing in hindu or whatever it is along with the headphones! classic!

Smoking!

Eddie Murphy plays Chandler Jarrell, a man who devotes his time to finding lost children. When the beautiful Kee Nang {Charlotte Lewis} enters his life, she tells him he is the chosen one and he must find the Golden Child. Sceptical and driven purely by lust and intrigue, Jarrell gets involved without realising he's about to embark on a fantastical journey, one that involves peril and worst of all, the demon Sardo Numspa.Is The Golden Child a product of its time?, by that i mean, was Eddie Murphy and The Golden Child's popularity exclusive to the late 1980s audiences?. For i can remember vividly how much this film entertained folk back in that decade, it's box office was $79,817,937, making it the 8th biggest earner of 1986, but since the 80s faded from memory it has become the in thing to deny Eddie Murphy pictures the comedy accolades that they actually once had. The Golden Child is not up with the more accepted 80s Murphy pictures like Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop, but upon revisiting the film recently i personally find that it contains Murphy at his wisecracking, quipping and charming best!, seriously!.Cashing in on a fantasy action formula that was reinvigorated and temp-lated by Raiders Of The Lost Ark in 1981, The Golden Child hits all the required genre buttons. Pretty girl, daring reluctant-hero with a quip in his armoury, dashing villain {Charles Dance so English i could kiss him myself}, wonderful colour, and a cute kid with mystical powers, the film only asks you to get involved in the fun, not to dissect and digress its worth as a cranial fantasy picture. Yes the CGI demon looks creaky now, and yes the genre had far better pictures in the 80s, 90s and beyond, but really if you agree with the disgraceful rating of 5 here on this site then you may just be taking this genre a little too serious, seriously. 7/10