McDowell's

McDowell's is a fictional brand often associated with the 1988 American comedy film Coming to America. In the film, McDowell's is depicted as a fast-food restaurant that is a parody of the real-life McDonald's chain. The owner of McDowell's, Cleo McDowell, claims that his restaurant is distinct from McDonald's, humorously highlighting minor differences in their respective menus and branding despite the obvious similarities.

Overview

In Coming to America, McDowell's serves as a significant location where the protagonist, Prince Akeem Joffer from the fictional African nation of Zamunda, played by Eddie Murphy, finds employment. Akeem works under the guise of a commoner, seeking to understand the American way of life and find a bride who loves him for his personality, not his royal status. The McDowell's restaurant is central to Akeem's experiences in America, providing a backdrop for many of the film's comedic and romantic scenes.

Differences from McDonald's

Cleo McDowell, portrayed by John Amos, explains to Akeem the subtle differences between his restaurant and McDonald's. For example, McDowell's serves the "Big Mick" instead of the "Big Mac", and their logo features golden arcs instead of golden arches. These distinctions are played for laughs, highlighting the lengths to which McDowell goes to avoid copyright infringement claims from McDonald's.

Cultural Impact

McDowell's has become an iconic symbol of Coming to America and is often cited in discussions about copyright and parody in media. The restaurant exemplifies how a fictional business can be used to create humor through its close resemblance to a real-world company, while also navigating the legal boundaries of copyright law.

In Popular Culture

Since the release of Coming to America, McDowell's has been referenced in various forms of media and even inspired real-life pop-up events and restaurants temporarily adopting the McDowell's branding for promotional events. These instances demonstrate the lasting impact of the film and its fictional restaurant on popular culture.

See Also

• Coming to America
• Eddie Murphy
• Parody
• Copyright law in the United States