Review of The Golden Child (1986) by Jordan K — 16 Dec 2015

The Golden Child is a strange mix between Beverly Hills Cop and Big Trouble in Little Tokyo. It fixed everything I hated about Beverly Hills Cop, but really had the potential to be one of the best 80s action comedies if it made its characters larger than life.

A LA cop who specializes in child disappearances is requested to save the recently kidnapped "golden child" in Tibet, who has been granted powers to save the world from the man who kidnapped him, a demon in disguise.

The Golden Child was actually really enjoyable. It was even pretty good, but not great and very easily forgettable. It blends Beverly Hills Cop with some slightly corny danger filled action sequences, testing Murphy more as a hero like protagonist. The story is decent, too, but here's where Golden Child could accel. The characters have the potential to be strong and a lot more compelling than they have been written. the character of the Golden Child himself is already compelling but could have much more to it, his powers are almost God-like and the writers had opportunities to test that in areas. The antagonist Sardo Numpsa is hardly chilling but has a mystical count-like feel to it. The essence that the character is a demon and could rival the Golden Child's powers is also not tested enough. The Golden Child could have so many uses for its characters but instead focuses on Murphy - which Eddie is classic Eddie, not much to say about him. The Golden Child fixed everything I already stated that I hate about the Beverly Hills Cop series, from a faster pace to humor that actually works and isn't just awkward. The Golden Child is good and entertaining, but it had the potential to be a lot more than just an Eddie Murphy box office dough guarantee.