Coming to America: More than Just a Fish-Out-of-Water Comedy?

Okay, cinephiles, Sarah here! I was rewatching Coming to America the other day (yes, I know, guilty pleasure!), and I was thinking... is there more going on visually than just Eddie Murphy being hilarious in disguise? I mean, the direction – whoever it was (I really need to look that up) – did a great job of contrasting Zamunda with Queens, obviously. But the lighting, especially... in Zamunda everything's bathed in this like, golden, almost ethereal light. Everyone's always smiling, even the guy whose job is literally showering the prince with rose petals! It's almost too perfect, right? Then BAM, we're in Queens, New York. Gritty, realistic lighting, harsh shadows, and people are...well, real. It kind of hit me that the visual contrast isn't just about comedy, but also about Akeem's (Eddie Murphy) internal struggle. Zamunda represents the suffocating expectations and the gilded cage he's trying to escape. Queens, in its less polished and more authentic environment, offers him a chance to actually see and connect with genuine people. Specifically with Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley). She’s shot in very natural light, which reinforces the idea that she is the real deal. The blocking in the McDowells' restaurant always highlights the social dynamic between the workers and the potential customers. I think the film subtly uses cinematography to underline Akeem’s character arc. He's not just finding a wife, he's finding a different kind of life, one where he's not defined by his privilege. And it's the visual language that really sells that transformation, even when the jokes and outlandish characters are front and center. Anyone else catch that on their rewatches, or am I overthinking it? I’d love to hear opinions from you guys. Maybe my film student brain is just finding patterns where there aren't any, lol. Also I am ashamed to admit I just realized John Landis directed it. D'oh.