User Reviews

The movie is a beautifully portrayed story of grit and having the support of a few good people around you.

The writers and Murphy showed Rudy Ray Moore as a real entertainer in that he did not care about displaying his ego to the audience - he just wanted to deliver what he knew the people enjoyed.

His friends did not always share his vision but they supported him until the end anyways. Their roles were played by actors who can project soul into the screen and were shot to make the most out of that soul.

Even the sound track was great and made watching the movie more entertaining and inspiring!

Eddie Murphy is back on top with this biopic of Rudy Ray Moore, the hustler, shameless self-promoter of wildly cornball action-comedies of the 1970s. Murphy has finally found a character to really sink his teeth into...and Murphy relishes every moment of inhabiting the joyful and strangely charming yet naive character desperately searching to simply express himself a an entertainer of the people and for the people. His character is an outsider who elevates other outliers all searching for validation and some simple joys in the midst of working class America.

Murphy is funny, charming, and touching as this flawed heroic character. He deserves all the acclaim for bringing this story back to life and surrounding himself with talented ensemble cast and strong direction and wonderfully zany costumes of the 70s era.

This film is at times foul and other times touching and it deserves your attention throughout as it revels in the joys of telling a story deserving to be told and to be relished and enjoyed by anyone searching for an escape from the mundane or cynical stories prevalent in movies of today.

A very entertaining and well acted biopic about a common man who found his luck and became the inspiration for many artists in future generations. One of those artists is Eddie Murphy who now brings Rudy Ray Moore on screen, a man who even influenced Rap and the way it developed. Murphy is fantastic and easily gives the best performance of his career. He really nailed the role and was able to completely vanish into that character. A very award worthy turn and great comeback for him. Another comeback story is Wesley Snipes who is absolutely hilarious and self ironic. Never thought he had that in him and that gives me the feeling his comedic and also dramatic talent was wasted all those years before. Another noteworthy and beautiful turn was done by Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The film itself had a very realistic and colorful look with nice production design and great costume work. The screenplay was very good as was the direction of Craig Brewer. It perfectly mixes comedic elements with dramatic moments and in its result is a very respectful and faithful biopic. Definitely worth to see and another winner feature for Netflix. Watch out for Eddie Murphy in this Oscar race. At least a Golden Globe nomination should be a given.

"How'd my life get so small?" Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy, who's not been this good in 30 years)

Rudy Ray Moore has been called the father of rap and more certainly a force in the blaxploitation movement several decades ago. "Dolemite is My Name" is an entertaining depiction of his rise ( see the above quote at a low moment in his career) to stardom as a recording star and movie actor, but more as a force in the movie enthusiasm for sexy, violent, funny films starring blacks in stories about their own imaginative lives, not those seen through the white lens.

Nothing new is added to the docudrama recipe here, although it would seem to call for creativity itself given Rudy's imaginative genius. Yet, a fine performance by Murphy, who captures Rudy's charming enthusiasm and at times naivete (think Ed Wood), anchors the film in Rudy's genial turn of phrases and gentle put downs, an Oscar nomination for Murphy possible.

The ensemble cast deserves a nod for supporting Murphy's performance, that allows them all to be the stars they wish to be, given that his dominance as star and producer could have eclipsed their performances. The almost whimsical way everyone participates in Rudy's dream creates a warm, energetic, smooth production.

Although the bio could be accused of hitting the "follow-your-dream" theme too heavily, the story of this sometimes down-and -out record clerk is an inspiration for those who love the history of entertainment and may themselves dream of stardom. BTW: The period detail is worth seeing for itself.

Dolemite Is My Name is a production of Netflix, which has become a major studio in a few years. Although the film will be seen streaming for a longtime, this short theatrical run offers the audience a chance to see spectacular costuming and big performances on the big screen. Do it now.

Murphy's best outing since Shrek? This is an Eddie performance driven by pleasurable funky verve.

However, as well made as "Dolemite Is My Name" is. The film goes on too long, and becomes a bit of a slog. But worth it for Eddie on top from, and because ultimately it's heart is in the right place. Creating a piece of ludicrous grindhouse trash, but investing it with soul.

"Dolemite is my name" is one of my favourite movies of the year so far along with Joker and Parasite. It's largely down to the career best performance by Eddie Murphy, who is simply mesmerising as Rudy Ray Moore. He brings so much energy to this role, along with his charm and humour. Eddie has never been this funny. Most of the jokes are raunchy so it might not be for everyone but it's impossible not to fall in love with Eddie in this film. I hope he is nominated in the best actor category at Oscars. He could even win it because he is that good.

Apart from Eddie, the film is full of brilliant performances, in particularly by Wesley Snipes who matches and sometimes steals the show from Eddie. It's a true ensemble. It's a shame that this movie is not getting a wide theatrical release because let me tell you if there is one film this year which needed to be seen on the big screen it's 'Dolemite Is My Name". A hilarious, heartfelt film which gives a really positive message to everyone who has a dream. A must-see crowd pleaser.

It's not as funny as people are saying. Sure, there's a few laughs to be had but nothing that's going to split you at the seams! Saying this movie is a 10/10 is just an incorrect statement. If this is a 10 then it's equal this year is Joker, and it isn't In the same stratosphere as joker. Eddie Murphy is still playing Eddie Murphy with the same grin from all his movies. He was great-but ppl are overrating his performance and the overall production.

Best Netflix original ever made. The entire cast was just perfect to say the least. Eddie Murphy nailed this in every way. Thank you for doing this movie.

I laughed only once in this entire movie, and that was at the 'sex scene'. So... this is clearly not a comedy movie, it's a biography. As a comedy movie, I'd rate it 4/10. But as a biography (telling the tale of Rudy Ray Moore), I'd rate it a 8/10. So, because this movie claims to be a comedy, but is actually a biography, I give it a 6/10 overall.

If Netflix labeled this movie as what it ACTUALLY is, then it would probably have been better received, because people who are looking for a comedy will have to look elsewhere.

Greetings again from the darkness. The old flea market adage is "one person's trash is another's treasure", and the same can be said for comedy. What you find obtuse and humorless may be the funniest thing your neighbor has ever seen or heard. No scientist can explain this phenomenon, and it's never been better exemplified than with a scene in director Craig Brewer's (BLACK SNAKE MOAN, HUSTLE & FLOW) latest film. Rudy Ray Moore and his group of friends are in a theatre watching Billy Wilder's comedy THE FRONT PAGE (1974), starring Walther Matthau and Jack Lemmon. The befuddled looks on the faces of Moore and his cohorts can't mask their confusion over the raucous laughter in the theatre and what they are viewing on screen. It's a turning point for Rudy Ray Moore and his next career step.

Eddie Murphy stars as Rudy Ray Moore, and though it's not necessary, having some knowledge of the career of the real Mr. Moore will likely enhance your viewing experience during this exceedingly entertaining, and sometimes riotous biopic. Ruby Ray Moore was a hustler who dreamed of making it big in show business - first as a singer, then as a stand-up comedian, and finally as movie star. His ambition and dreams kept him going, even after others wrote him off. We first meet Rudy as an assistant manager at Dolphin's of Hollywood record store. He's trying to smooth-talk the store DJ (Snoop Dogg) into playing Rudy's R&B records ... one of which is "The Ring-A-Ling-Dong" song. The DJ tells him the time for that music has passed, but the next light bulb soon goes off Rudy. A local panhandler (a terrific Ron Cephus Jones cameo) regales those in the store with tall tales from the 'hood. Rudy decides to fine-tune those tales and turn it into a comedy act.

Add some clothes and attitude and that's how Dolemite was born ... Rudy Ray Moore's onstage alter ego - part pimp, part rapping philosopher. His memorable catchphrase is repeated a few times throughout the film, and I'll do my best to present a PG version: "Dolemite is my name, and 'effing' up mother-'effers' is my game." Yep, now you have a better feel for Rudy and Dolemite. However, co-writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewsi (also co-writers on Tim Burton's ED WOOD, 1994), and especially Eddie Murphy, dig much deeper and provide a look at the man, his friends, and his career pursuits.

It's pretty interesting to see a guy, without much going for him, figure out a strategy that ends up working. Part of his wisdom was in 'knowing his audience'. His own preferences, and those of his friends, played right into what went on stage, on vinyl, and on screen. When a producer tells him his act will only be funny to the 5 blocks in Rudy's neighborhood, Rudy brilliantly responds, "Yeah, but every city in America has these same 5 blocks." It's that kind of instinct, along with his generosity, and understanding his own shortcomings, that allowed him to reach a level of success. The scene where he cuts a deal with uppity actor D'Urville Martin (a superbly funny Wesley Snipes) portrays Rudy's keen sense of persuasion ... he played to the ego.

Eddie Murphy reminds us of his immense comedic talents and how he became such a mega-superstar in the first place. Here, he's not really impersonating or mimicking Moore, but rather capturing his spirit and paying tribute to a man he so clearly respects. The supporting cast is also outstanding. In addition to Mr. Snipes, who we wish had more scenes with Mr. Murphy, Craig Robinson is hilarious as singer Ben Taylor, Keegan-Michael Key is socially-conscious playwright Jerry Jones, Titus Burgess is wide-eyed co-worker Theodore Toney, Mike Epps plays Moore's pal Jimmy Lynch, and Kodi Smit-McPhee (THE ROAD) plays the student-DP. In addition, we get a couple of other cameos from Chris Rock as DJ Daddy Fatts, and Bob Odenkirk plays a film distributor with dollar signs in his eyes. Deserving of special mention is Da'Vine Joy Randolph ("On Becoming a God in Central Florida") as Lady Reed, Rudy's muse and discovery. She is funny and ferocious in this role that should lead to much more work.

The film is produced by Netflix and it screened at the inaugural North Texas Film Festival. The music (Scott Bomar) and especially the costume design (Ruth Carter) are top notch, and contribute to the story and film. Rudy Ray Moore became a Blaxploitation icon at a time when the comedy of Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Moms Mabley were popular - so hopefully that gives you some indication of the type of humor the film delivers. Raunchy humor with Kung-Fu action and plenty of skin - that's the formula for the three Dolemite movies, as well as Moore's comedy albums (and their covers). This was a time when dropping Fred Williamson's name garnered instant respect. Some may compare this to James Franco's THE DISASTER ARTIST, but instead I recall Mario van Peebles' BAADASSSS!, a tribute to his filmmaking father Melvin. Hopefully your sense of humor will allow you to find the many laughs in this one, because Dolemite is dynamite ... and that' a WRAP!

Maybe this is the movie Eddie Murphy should had made back in 1989 instead of Harlem Nights.

Murphy is back to his rude old best, this time showing maturity as an actor playing the real life Rudy Ray Moore. He was a struggling musician and comic who hit it big by creating the character of Dolomite. A crude jiving, fast talking hustler. All of a sudden Moore was playing to packed houses with his raucous act.

Dolemite Is My Name has Moore using his energies and his own money to cash in on the Blaxploitation craze of the 1970s. The film he made, Dolemite was never going to give Foxy Brown any sleepless nights but it turned Moore into a cult figure.

This is a fond tribute to the Blaxploitation era and Wesley Snipes nearly steals the show as the almost camp but hard drinking actor turned director D'Urville Martin.

Murphy finally makes a come back with this movie I found it very funny think everyone will enjoy it to

I found the film interesting knowing it was a true story to some extent but also for the large part i didn't find the majority I'd the film to be that funny at all. As well as this it does have its lulls and could be slow at times all. For me it was average at best expected and hoped for a lot more.

If saying motherf dozens of time is your idea of funny then this is is for you. I wish Murphy had better material than this. The idea is stretched thin when you first realise the character is stealing someone else's copy. It goes downhill from there.

Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) was a true from the streets success. And, a late bloomer, as it were. After years of trying to breakthrough as an entertainer in L.A., the 40-something Moore took some stories he heard around his neighborhood and created the stand up comedian character of the cocky Dolemite. That act lead to underground success with self-released record albums and touring. With the Blacksploitation film genre exploding, it was only a matter of time until Dolemite hit the big screen. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski's script traces those crucial years in Moore's life in the early 70s. A raw, rude and raucous screenplay it is. Director Craig Brewer mostly keeps to the spirit of the writing and lets the dialogue and the acting take center stage. And, with Eddie Murphy delivering a strong energetic performance, it's best to stand back and let him fly. And, soar he does. With the makeup, hair and some extra pounds, Murphy takes on the dynamo persona of Moore/Dolemite. Occasionally, Murphy is "too good" an actor to totally capture the rough hewn Moore, who was more a force of nature than a smooth performer -- but, it's hard to fault him for giving "too good" a performance! Wesley Snipes is almost unrecognizable as D'urville Martin, a "name" actor who Moore lures by letting him Direct. Kodi Smit-McPhee plays Nicholas Von Sternberg* Dolemite's cinematographer straight out of film school who leads a band of young white behind the scenes crew members. The real scene stealer is Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Lady Reed, a small town girl who Moore discovers on tour. The entire cast throws themselves into this with a verge and enthusiasm that is palpable. The movie is a bit too long, with padded exposition and too close a fealty to the bio-pic template, but, as Dolemite himself might say: Who gives a $^@# about that!? You want action? You want laughs? You want some nasty?! We got it all! Listen to Dolemite.

* Note: I've worked closely with Nick Von Sternberg, so yes, it's based on a true person. Very kind gentleman. Indeed, he is the son of master filmmaker Josef Von Sternberg (although he passed when Nick was still a teen). Nick worked for over two decades as a cinematographer before leaving the business.

I don't do a lot of reviews on here, but this movie really surprised me. It was hilarious, for sure; it's impossible for an Eddie Murphy fronted movie to not be. But it also was a feel good film about preserving and giving it your all. Got goosebumps at the end. Great film!

I've got to be honest here: I pretty much liked this movie before I even saw one frame. I love both "Dolemite" and movies about making movies. Combine that with an Eddie Murphy who actually gives a damn and you can't really do much wrong anymore.

It's sad how the real Rudy Ray Moore never got to see this movie, because it's a great portrayal of what made him so endearing and likeable. Moore just never gave up and became a household name (well, a cult figure at least) against all odds. His movies just ooze a genuine love for film-making. "Dolemite" wasn't good on a technical level and the plot made no sense, but it gave the audience exactly what it wanted. Even decades later, it's one of the most genuinely entertaining movies ever made, without ever being in the same ballpark as competent. The boom mic is pretty much a supporting character, but that's all part of the charm.

This movie was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who also wrote the biopics about Ed Wood and Andy Kaufman (and also... "Problem Child"?). They clearly know what they're doing and get their facts right, but it's the performances that really elevate this movie. It's not only Murphy. Wesley Snipes actually seems to be enjoying himself for the first time in years and steals every scene he's in. The cast gels together very well and all give believable performances.

The only small downside is that the movie pretty much ends at the premiere of "Dolemite". Granted, that's a great climax for this movie, but there's so much more to the life of Rudy Ray Moore. He was actually quite successful for a couple of years after that, before losing everything on the commercial flop "Disco Godfather". Throughout the 1980s he pretty much disappeared, but his career had a revival when rappers started mentioning him as a great influence. Dolemite actually made a comeback in the early 2000s with "The Return Of Dolemite". It's a chapter worth exploring, but with so much source material I understand you have to make a selection.

This movie has certainly revived Eddie Murphy's career, but more importantly it did the same for Rudy Ray Moore. Obviously, he's not around to enjoy it, but the Dolemite character is alive and well after more than four decades. Not bad at all for a movie that everybody tried to talk him out of. Rudy Ray Moore's story is an inspiration to all of us.

"Dolemite Is My Name" is a typical biopic bolstered by its implacable hilarity, its affection for its subject and its commitment to the time and place it is set. And yet, I'm still being nagged by something about his lead performance. Don't get me wrong, Murphy is very, very good, and I'd love to see him tackle Pryor next because of that. Just like Rudy Ray Moore, I buy him more than I do like Dolemite.That's probably the intention here, as Moore repeatedly says in the movie that the role is a put-on. That I keep rolling around in my head this performance says something about its staying power.Murphy isn't exactly the most charitable actor when he's the lead, a by-product of his star power, but he's here at its best when he's slyly letting the scene be stolen from below him.

As I would assume most, I have watched a lot of Eddie Murphy material. From stand ups to Saturday Night live, to all his movies. So I have seen better. Plus I have high standards for remakes and documentaries of generational actors. And i would call Rudy Ray moore just that. I watched Dolimite with my girlfriend who is in here 20's and never even heard of him. She laughed all the way through the whole movie. She feel asleep on this.

Lets just start off with what I don't like, the portrayal of the late 60s and early 70s. Now I was born in 77 but around 84 you could still see what was left of the mid 70's and late 80's. And you could feel it. The struggle. This movie made everything seem way too easy. The struggle only seemed temporary. Had too much a 2019 feeling of "instant gratification" that you find in today generation.

The person who made this movie had the actors and resources. It was well advertised. I even got netflix for the first time in a while just for this movie. So excited for it to come out only to watch it and see the missed a lot. The 70's were filthy time. It was a struggling time for black people right after the civil rights movement. The director seemed to be stirring away from that and for me you cant show a movie without showing a true struggle.

This is exactly why the "get down" went off and didn't get renewed. Cause they just made things seem unreal to the point where its a documentary mixed in with pleasantville. This is suppose to a movie in the 70's? Yeah okay, the only thing they got right was the nudity and that was a little too well placed for me. In the 70's in those films breast were just coming out anywhere and everywhere.

This review may be long but its a review on the film and they missed the boat on this one. Plus it should have been funny. Ill give it a 7 cause it was a great idea and was some great acting in it. But the results were far from great. Quit trying to sugar coat the 70's and give it me raw.

This is what the old timers call a "feel good" movie, and so do I as I am (sorta) old. Dolemite is My Name was awesome, and in particular a blast to see in a theater with a crowd that was into it (it's in select theaters two weeks ahead of its Netflix drop); in a lot of ways it's more like Scott/Larry's Ed Wood than The Disaster Artist, where once again we a determined and ultimately good-hearted underdog scrap his way into cult film status (in this case as much being a comedic powerhouse too, and showing for and outside and underrepresented community at the time). For all his faults, we root for Rudy Ray Moore, and it's practically without sentimental touches.

I also didn't know much about the BTS stories of how Moore got his comedy shtick down (from homeless, hobos and other folks from the street), or how he put together his movie production through a lot of sheer will, determination, D'Urville Martin (ill get back to him in a second), and a few white guys from film school who could find a plug for the hotel used as "Dolemite Studios." Also, the heart of the movie including those around Rudy who helped him out, especially Lady Reed/Queen Bee (Randolph, who I haven't really seen before but is a stand-out), and writing (with Jerry Jones, Key is LOL) what he knew, and that connecting. The only thing missing is showing the boom mic dropping into the shots(!)

This is amazing work, from writers who know how to do a story where outsider/down-on-their-luck/shut-out creators rise to the occasion in high comedic and dramatic form, and a director (Brewer, his first significant film since Black Snake Moan) who gets how to show black lives and how they matter. And Murphy is astonishingly good and charming and grounded and everything he needs to be to make Moore work... But goddamn if Snipes doesn't steal the whole show. This is the best character and most emotionally rich and fun Murphy's been in 20 years. This is the best Snipes has *ever* been (have I seen him be this funny aside from Major League? No. He's funnier here), as this completely full of himself star-director, drunk off his ass, and one step from directing with a pinky raised. And even he gets some dimension and a key moment where he gives Moore some advice/direction that connects genuinely.

I may even raise this rating up a notch in the coming days. Im not sure, conventional ending besides, I can find a note wrong or off about Dolemite is my Name. This is the most heartwarming thing you may see this year - so strap in with some b****es and some beer! That's... The best I got.

... Pedantic point PS: the "B***h, are you for real?!" scene where Dolamite jumps out the window.... That's from the follow-up, The Human Tornado, not Dolemite proper (in a way that may be giving Martin too much credit that he could stage that). Just the more you know...

Under all the wearisome vulgarity, there's actually an interesting story here.

But you knew that from the start, right? Eddie Murphy and the slightest movie description was enough guarentee. However, Murphy is also enough to take the chance and yep, I found a good (based on true events) story executed with skill and entertaining interest. However, all the class and style it both promised and began to deliver was ultimately ruined by the F-bombs and ever-present M-Fers. Yeah, yeah... period piece... Eddy Murphy... but for the sake O'ever-lovv'n Pete, how many times can you repeat any word and expect it to have any power after... oh, I don't know, 54,000 reiterations? We need a YouTube montage on the MFs alone... out there, Cinemasins? And hey, blurting it out with lip-twisting force does not empower the drama or the obvious evidence of an extremely-limited vocabulary and imagination. This is good screenwriting? Writing at all except gutter scribble?

Towards the end it struck me not triumphal but sad in these ways: Yeah, Dolo's got his stichk, I get it. Time and place for everything, I guess. But like the Pet Rock, I'd expect his entire act to wear thin after 20 minutes. Urban clever, rhymes... ok, change the channel already. And seems to show the entire city embracing vulgarity as a revolution. Nice contribution to society, ya mudder... er, numbskull!

Some people are saying this this movie is a comeback for Eddie Murphy. Some are saying that Murphy never went anywhere. All I can tell you is that whether or not Murphy went anywhere, he is back. This movie is some of Murphy's best work since he did standup comedy. He has matured amazingly well into a great actor and screen personality.

His supporting cast here is amazing too. Its like he called up all of his friends and said "Hey, lets make a movie". Just like Rudy Ray Moore did in 1975 with the movie this movie is about. And it works very well.

Comeback or not, this movie will mark the beginning of a new career for Eddie Murphy. And he deserves it.

There are many amazing true stories that come on screen, every year. This one is amongst the most incredible of them all.

Eddie Murphy gives the performance of his lifetime as the supremely optimistic, obscenity spouting comedian, rapper and actor from the 70s. He is in his elements and it is clear that he has had supreme fun making this.

This is a real crowd pleaser, with raunchy dialogues and unbelievable twists of tale. Also, while watching this i realized that during the entire last year, I hadn't seen a single film with an all- black cast.

PS- It has _the funniest_ sex scene of all time. You gotta see it to believe it.

Looking at the many reviews saying Murphy is "back", has me thinking those same people never saw the original Dolemite. Murphy didn't even try to sound like Rudy Ray Moore. Campy.