Year: 2019
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Struggling entertainer Rudy Ray Moore finds stardom when he takes on the stage persona "Dolemite" and risks everything to make his dream come true.
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| In "Dolemite Is My Name," Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) wears an amazing purple suit to a business meeting about his movie "Dolemite." (Image Source) |
"Making it" in the entertainment industry means more than just having talent. Not everyone needs that much expertise or know-how. Sometimes, all you need is a fiery passion for what you do, the will and work ethic to make it happen, and the guts to risk it all to achieve your dream. Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name" is directed by Craig Brewer, who is known for making the movies "Hustle and Flow," "The Legend of Tarzan," and "Black Snake Moan." It is written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who have worked together on numerous biopics, including "The People vs. Larry Flint," "Ed Wood," and "Big Eyes." This film tells the story of rap pioneer and blaxploitation film star Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy). As a young man, Rudy left his home in Arkansas and eventually made his way to Los Angeles with dreams of being a famous entertainer. Things didn't work out quite as he hoped, and he wound up being a middle-aged man working in a record store. A chance meeting with a homeless man named Rico (Ron Cephas Jr.) would change the course of Rudy's life forever. Rico would come around the record shop and tell obscene stories about a character known as Dolemite. Rudy goes on to adopt the Dolemite persona and incorporate it into his act. Even though he was always told 'no,' and even when no one thought he would succeed, Moore risked everything to prove the naysayers wrong.
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| D'Urville Martin (Wesley Snipes) and his date (Monique StaTeena) get drinks at a strip club in Netflix's original film "Dolemite Is My Name." (Image Source) |
Eddie Murphy made a name for himself in the '80s on Saturday Night Live and in R-rated comedy films. By the late '90s, his career started to wane as he moved towards kid-and-family-centered fare, most of which we have not enjoyed. We must say, we are pleased and thrilled to see Murphy back in top form doing what he does best: giving one hell of a kick-ass performance in a hilarious, profanity-filled flick. What better way to make his return to the genre than by playing a true pioneer of "vulgar comedy" in Rudy Ray Moore? Murphy gives a fantastic, funny, Oscar-worthy performance full of swagger, magnetism, energy, and blunt honesty. In a just and fair world, he will be getting some awards attention come 2020. Whether you're familiar with Dolemite or not, Murphy's vivacious, enthusiastic portrayal helps audiences understand the passion Rudy Ray Moore had and the struggles he faced along the way. At its core, it's a tale we can all relate to because it's an underdog story about a man who fought tooth and nail to make his dreams come true. It's equal parts inspiring, sincere, and heartwarming, even when Moore's artistic vision is beyond peculiar. Aside from Murphy's top-notch acting job, the rest of the cast is terrific as well. We have to draw particular attention to Wesley Snipes, another actor who has sadly been under the radar (and slightly out of commission) since his peak popularity in the '90s. Even though he doesn't have a lot of screen time, Snipes is magnificent and truly shines as director D'Urville Martin. His performance boasts a return-to-form for Snipes, who also got his start in comedies like "Major League" and "White Men Can't Jump" before becoming an action star. This film proves he still has impeccable comedic timing. Another big standout for us was Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who plays Rudy Ray Moore's frequent collaborator Lady Reed. Randolph is utterly hilarious, and whenever she was on screen, we found ourselves cackling at her raunchy wit. In fact, the entire movie had us laughing from start to finish, a testament to the awesome script from Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski and the tremendous direction of Craig Brewer. Finally, this entire project is authentically brought to life with some incredible era-specific sets, props, and costumes (which are courtesy of the fabulous Oscar-winning Ruth E. Carter).
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| Craig Robinson, Mike Epps, Tituss Burgess, Eddie Murphy, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph star in Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name." (Image Source) |
Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name" is an absolute slam dunk in our estimation. It's one of the best movies of 2019. It's everything we hoped it would be and then some. It has an amazing ensemble cast, a laugh-out-loud humorous script, and an undeniable affection for the quirky Rudy Ray Moore and his slightly mind-boggling but equally impassioned vision. You don't need to be a fan of Dolemite to check out this biopic because we can all relate to in one way or another, so please, stop what you're doing and watch this now!
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.4/10
RT Rating: 97%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!
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