Dolemite is My Name: Movie Review

It's been a long time since we have seen Eddie Murphy headline a film and it's definitely been even longer since he had a great one. While "Dolemite is My Name" won't be on his greatest hits list, it's definitely a first step into a possible modern comeback for the comedic legend.

Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) has tried everything to become a successful celebrity. Unfortunately, all of his past attempts have failed big time. But when he meets a bunch of homeless men who have the gift of gab, Moore uses this to become an instant hit as an underground Black comedian. Still not satisfied with his recent success, Moore decides to take a huge gamble - making a film on his own.

If there's one thing that defines "Dolemite is My Name" was that it hits the basic notes to make this a good experience. The story was heartfelt and a feel-good one. It's basic and safe but does the job to make its subject interesting even though the character is strictly limited to looking like a saint amongst men. The imbalance towards the good side might turn off biopic purists but the film was never made to be heavy on drama. At the helm of all this success is Eddie Murphy specifically his performance. We will have to admit that we are not familiar with Rudy Ray Moore but Murphy found a way to make his performance extremely natural, authentic, and relatable. He was also able to make every scene full of emotions and of course, laughter. At the end of the day, "Dolemite is My Name" is a fun, funny, and light-hearted. It's the perfect movie to waste away two hours without you feeling guilty about it.

Rating: 3 and a half reels





Why you should watch it:
- Light-hearted and funny, this is an all-around good movie

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the narrative and characterization might be too good to be truly true