‘You know what they say brother – luck is where opportunity meets preparation…’
It’s sad when something that you love declines. The music of Kings of Leon. The films of Kevin Smith. My left knee (RIP). And it’s almost unheard of for something that has lost that special touch to recover. Which brings us nicely to Eddie Murphy. You could make an argument that, animated donkeys aside, Murphy hasn’t made a meaningful picture since Bowfinger in ’99. If any star is rife for a comeback, it’s Edward Regan Murphy…
Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) is a comedian, singer, director, auteur… basically he’s a hustler. After creating his alter ego Dolemite, a character scrounged from the one liners of neighbourhood bums, Ray Moore finally begins to taste the success that he goddamn deserves.
First off, and it gives me great pleasure to write this, Murphy is a revelation. This is the comedic genius who smashed box office records in the ’80s and ’90s. He is electric, compelling and, for the first time in a long time, present. Murphy is trying in this movie, properly trying, and all that investment pays off in a performance that few thought Murphy still capable of.
This isn’t all about Murphy though, the outstanding supporting cast are just as important with another comeback in the shape of Wesley Snipes as the faux pretentious actor D’Urville Martin, Craig Robinson as likeable as ever as Ray Moore’s long suffering producer Ben and Da’vine Joy Randolph superb as Ray Moore’s muse Lady Reed. Throw in Snoop Dogg, Keegan-Michael Key and Chris Rock and we have a serious ensemble cast on our hands.
Director Craig Brewer has taken an unlikely redemption story and paved it in gold to produce something entertaining, memorable and a joy to watch. Dolemite Is My Name is just as much about Eddie Murphy’s comeback as Rudy Ray Moore’s rags to riches tale. It’s time to get excited about Beverly Hills Cop 4…