At this stage in his career, Eddie Murphy was certainly the golden boy of Hollywood with hits such as Beverly Hills Cop and 48 HRS under his belt. However, not even he could save this horribly misconceived comedy adventure, in which he is cast rather improbably as a social worker who is asked to track down a Tibetan youngster (the "Golden Child") who holds the key to the world's survival. Murphy's quick-fire quips fall flat and Michael Ritchie's direction is best described as indifferent, while Charles Dance hams it up as the baddie of the piece.

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."