Dolemite Is My Name Review
Eddie Murphy triumphantly returns in the biggest surprise package film of the year
I have found the surprise package of 2019 and it stars Eddie Murphy in an eccentric, flamboyant and charismatic portrayal of comedian Rudy Ray Moore. Dolemite Is My Name is by no means the best film of the year, but I think it very may well be one of them. This film tells the real story of American comedian Rudy Ray Moore, who develops the on stage character of Dolemite which gains a cult-like following in the 1970s. Dolemite is a character who uses poetic rhyming and vulgar, crude language to make audiences laugh and becomes a major hit. As the character becomes more and more popular, Rudy wants to take it to the next level and put it on the big screen, as Dolemite, for the world to admire. We see the struggles of producing this low budget film independently and on Rudy’s own money. It’s a hilarious, charming watch and I haven’t stopped smiling afterwards.
I’ll get to Eddie Murphy, and rightly so, but let me say right off the bat this is amongst the finest casts assembled in quite some time. Murphy is the big name and will draw so much praise here, but Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Tituss
Burgess and Wesley Snipes smashed this out the park. Murphy’s character is so out there, that he soaks up so much of our attention but this film doesn’t work on the level it does without these supporting characters. I can’t help but mention them all individually. Keegan-Michael Key is, for me, one of the funniest men on the planet and he plays Jerry Jones – a very artistically driven screenplay writer. Epps and Burgess play Rudy’s best friends, and they support him in all his endeavours. Randolph’s character, Lady Reed, was so pivotal to this being not a good movie, but a really really good one. Wesley Snipes made me chuckle uncontrollably as the director of Dolemite, D’Urville Martin – a big name star, who feels the production of the film is beneath him and perhaps his lowest point. Then, there’s of course Craig Robinson, who not only has the best sideburns of all time but is also back singing. For those who aren’t aware of this man’s singing ability please see this:
Each character is likable in their own individual way and they’re all funny, but for different reasons. Indeed, that’s the sign of not only great ensemble acting, but fantastic writing as well. There’s a few surprising cameos as well in this film, but I won’t spoil those reveals here. I’ve since watched a few interview clips of the cast and there’s one thing that they all, pretty much, have in common – they were all desperate to work with Eddie Murphy.
Eddie Murphy is the man. Seriously, he is ridiculously good in this film and he is the captain of it throughout. Murphy, is similar to the likes of say Jim Carrey, in that when he gets going his energy levels are through the roof and his natural humour captures the audience in the palm of his hand. This was clearly a passion project for Murphy, who has spoken of how Rudy Ray Moore was a source of major inspiration for him in his own career. He showcases some of his trademark Eddie Murphy characteristics whilst still clearly inhabiting this character as well as his on stage/on screen persona.
Rudy Ray Moore is a struggling comic who works at a record store and at a local bar. But once he finds his inspiration for his Dolemite persona, he unleashes a curse laden routine that resonates with the black audiences he predominately performs to. Indeed, what Rudy wants most is to be known nation-wide, but he wants to make a film that he knows will appeal to an African American audience. This film isn’t afraid to acknowledge that cultural differences can be found in areas such as film or comedy. The example used in this film, is that Rudy and his friends go to watch The Front Page (1974) and unlike the majority white audience there, don’t find it funny one lick.
One of the funniest scenes, is when Rudy and Jerry are discussing the script for Dolemite. Jerry, is keen to keep it grounded and tap in to key themes of the African American experience of the time, whilst Rudy pitches ideas about kung fu fighting, explosions and exorcisms. The men are polar opposites apart, but this is indicative of who Rudy is and wants to be – a man who entertains the masses. I admire the themes this film tackled. Race relations or dynamics is fundamental and underlying to the story. However, it is more about how one man has dreams and ambitions, and is perseverant within that context.
Dolemite Is My Name is a funny but intelligently written biopic of the man many have since labelled the ‘Godfather of Rap’. This is an outrageous film about an outrageous film, with bold choices ranging from hairstyling, to the costumes, to the acting. This film doesn’t hold back, and audiences will appreciate this. This is the sort of film that makes me happy Netflix are not only creating content, but stream it altogether. Had this been put out only in cinema, I probably wouldn’t have rushed out to see it. Thankfully, I’ve been spared from such stupidity and would urge people to give this a watch. You won’t regret it, just don’t watch it with your mother in the room.