Saw this with two other film buffs at our local indie theater to get a jump on the Netflix release, and we all enjoyed it a whole lot. Having been fans of Eddie Murphy from his earlier films and especially the way he carried SNL during the "lean" years, it was great to see him carry Dolemite is My Name.
Rudy Ray Moore, a rather likable dude who tries to reinvent himself after failing in various entertainment projects, goes through an odyssey of sorts. It's ironic how this is the role in which Murphy is also reinventing himself. While many critics are expecting a Golden Globe nomination and quite possibly a win in the comedy/musical category for best actor, those of us who already love Murphy are not surprised that he could pull this off.
Along the way, supporting characters (who are beyond the usual uni-dimensional ones seen in recent throw-away comedies), add a whole lot. Craig Robinson, Keegan-Michael Key, Wesley Snipes, Snoop Dog, Mike Epps and even Chris Rock are just great - yet Da'Vine Joy Randolph is probably the biggest surprise.
It's also worth mentioning the historical context of this film. Although Blaxploitation films were already gathering steam at the time, Moore's projects were indie to the core, and show the roots of independent film. Similarly, we the audience are given an angle on performers who acted as precursors to the rap movement.
Finally, the stylistic elements were superb in our opinion. The production designers nailed 1970's Los Angeles, costumes were fun, we thought the window into collaborating on films on a very thin budget was cool, the interspersed songs set the mood aptly, and the nudity/sexuality was presented in a fun (and funny) way. Despite the nostalgia aspects, the pacing/editing kept the film refreshing.
With the exception of some smart independent comedies (eg., Edge of Seventeen, Eighth Grade) and outliers (such as The Favourite), comedies in the 2010's have really lost popularity and critical praise. Raunchy comedies have been losing money for years, perhaps because of the same tired in-your-face sight gags or poorly written stories that lack even a modicum of creativity. Many have not been grounded in relatable stories, so most of us just stopped going. Dolemite is My Name changes that. We expect it to be popular on Netflix, and can only hope that those making the next generation of comedies take notice. Bravo!
Rudy Ray Moore, a rather likable dude who tries to reinvent himself after failing in various entertainment projects, goes through an odyssey of sorts. It's ironic how this is the role in which Murphy is also reinventing himself. While many critics are expecting a Golden Globe nomination and quite possibly a win in the comedy/musical category for best actor, those of us who already love Murphy are not surprised that he could pull this off.
Along the way, supporting characters (who are beyond the usual uni-dimensional ones seen in recent throw-away comedies), add a whole lot. Craig Robinson, Keegan-Michael Key, Wesley Snipes, Snoop Dog, Mike Epps and even Chris Rock are just great - yet Da'Vine Joy Randolph is probably the biggest surprise.
It's also worth mentioning the historical context of this film. Although Blaxploitation films were already gathering steam at the time, Moore's projects were indie to the core, and show the roots of independent film. Similarly, we the audience are given an angle on performers who acted as precursors to the rap movement.
Finally, the stylistic elements were superb in our opinion. The production designers nailed 1970's Los Angeles, costumes were fun, we thought the window into collaborating on films on a very thin budget was cool, the interspersed songs set the mood aptly, and the nudity/sexuality was presented in a fun (and funny) way. Despite the nostalgia aspects, the pacing/editing kept the film refreshing.
With the exception of some smart independent comedies (eg., Edge of Seventeen, Eighth Grade) and outliers (such as The Favourite), comedies in the 2010's have really lost popularity and critical praise. Raunchy comedies have been losing money for years, perhaps because of the same tired in-your-face sight gags or poorly written stories that lack even a modicum of creativity. Many have not been grounded in relatable stories, so most of us just stopped going. Dolemite is My Name changes that. We expect it to be popular on Netflix, and can only hope that those making the next generation of comedies take notice. Bravo!