What the hell is going on with Eddie Murphy. He hasn't had a good movie since the original Nutty Professor. Life, with M
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ChrisWieder — 22 years ago(May 16, 2003 10:45 AM)
I can't believe I'm getting into this, since originally I was just mortified at the unbelievably unfair characterization of Dan Aykroyd, but that's for another time, now as to Mr. Murphy.
I appreciate those people who commend him for making movies more suitable for a broader audience, but as was pointed out, movies with vulgarity and violence have been some of the best movies ever made (wander over to the discussion boards for The Godfather parts I and II for related threads), and if one wants to compare the lasting impact of a movie, something like BHC or Raw is going to blow Daddy Day Care away. I'm sorry your kids can't see the former yet. When they are old enough to, they will agree with me.
Now regarding the "slippage" of his career, I ask you to consider the following timeframes:
1982-1996 (His Golden Age for us non-family film oriented types): 48 Hours, Trading Places, Delirious (Norton, my friend), BHC, The Golden Child, Raw, BHC II, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, Another 48 Hours, Boomerang, BHC III, The Distinguished Gentlemen, Vampire in Brooklyn, and The Nutty Professor - Saw them all, liked them all except The Golden Child (which I allow might be more my fault than the movie's fault) and BHC III (went to the franchise well once too often). But Eddie did great characters, did some romantic comedy, some comedy with a moral message too (The Distinguished Gentleman was quite good, I thought), and the films by and large were enjoyable.
post-1996: Metro, Mulan, Doctor Dolittle, Holy Man, Life, Bowfinger, Nutty Professor II, Shrek, Dr. Dolittle II, Showtime, Pulto Nash, I Spy, Daddy Day Care Still some good movies here (Doctor Dolittle and Life were my favorites, and Bowfinger and Showtime also have many fans), but for people who have been watching everything he did for 15 years, there was enough un-evenness to stop catching every movie. Perhaps because his career has created such high expectations, especially among those aged 25-40, that is why there are questions about his career. I want to stress that I am not at all questioning his acting ability or comic talent. I don't want to think that will ever cool off, and his gift to make people laugh is hotter than Hades. Perhaps his judgment needs to improve as to what movies are better suited to his abilities.
Anyway, just another idea or two floating around in cyberspace. Enjoy reading this tripe as much as I enjoyed writing it
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HotpinkGA — 22 years ago(May 13, 2003 03:23 PM)
Eddie Murphy has grown up. That's what's happened. Obviously he wants his kids to be able to see some of his movies. I thought "Daddy Day Care" was hilarious. If you spend any time around pre-schoolers, you can appreciate it. I've seen some reviews where the critics get it and really enjoyed it, but the negative reviews are the ones that get the publicity. I thought "Showtime" was fairly amuzing, and "I Spy" was okay, but "Daddy Day Care" is my favorite Eddie Murphy movie of the last couple of years. Very real. Very funny.
. . .it seems like an aweful waste of space. -
skittlebyrd13-1 — 22 years ago(May 22, 2003 11:12 AM)
Look people, it's really quite a good movie. It's aimed towards familys, not pre-school teachers, as one of ya'll mentioned. You shouldn't say the movie is bad until you see it. Trailers can be deceiving.
"Cartoons make my eyes itch!" ~ Dr. Drakken -
DragonQueen228 — 22 years ago(May 25, 2003 06:44 PM)
bigman13, I have to agree with you. Eddie Murphy was great in Shrek, the nutty professor, the Klumps but his most recent ones have sucked and Daddy Daycare has to be the worst. He used to be sooo funny, and I hope this is just a phase because he used to be great and I wanna see him being his old self again. I have to say that hes doing a terrible job of acting in his new movies and you couldn't have said it better. And its not like he was even trying to make his movies look good either, those comericials for Daddy Daycare made it look so stupid!-(I mean the freaky little burping kid dressed up like some fruity super hero, the fact that eddie murphy was in this with another guy, all the stupidityit all just looks so bad!) I couldnt believe this was an Eddie Murphy film. Hes starting to lose it I just hope he can bring himself back up.
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dewolcott — 22 years ago(May 31, 2003 11:13 AM)
As a parent I'm thankful that someoneanyoneis making an effort to entertain my youngsters without the obligatory sex, violence and non-stop bad language. The stuff I enjoyed as a kid surely seemed bad to my parents. I even wonder what the heck I was thinking!
Today I enjoy the no-brainers and simpletons since that's all I'm allowed to watch for the next 10 years or so. I give Eddie credit for trying a different route and giving options for all age groups. With all of the high-tech effects these days, can you imagine how difficult it would be to make a clean, non-superhuman movie these days? -
customX13 — 22 years ago(June 02, 2003 08:58 AM)
He's reached the fork in the road where he'll do any movie and I mean any movie in order to stay afloat in the business. Eddie must have the world record for so many movies made within a year or something, like 3 or 4 bombs. Just like Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Segal, and Sylvester Stallone. It's all over once you're making straight to video bombs. LOL
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customX13 — 22 years ago(June 16, 2003 06:46 PM)
I think Eddie just needs to find that particular role like in Beverly Hills Cop where he's serious and a wise a**. Notice he's been doing nothing but jokey comedic roles, and I know he can be dynamic, he just needs to figure out the right script not rehash.
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rbivins — 22 years ago(June 20, 2003 09:37 PM)
Eddie has 9 movies that have grossed over $100,000,000 (more than any other actor) domestically:
Rank.Title..Domestic Gross
18Shrek (2001).$267,652,016
30Beverly Hills Cop (1984).$234,760,478
101..Beverly Hills Cop II (1987).$153,665,036
116..Doctor Dolittle (1998)$144,156,464
153..Nutty Professor, The (1996).$128,769,000
157..Coming to America (1988).$128,152,301
175..Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)$123,307,945
183..Mulan (1998).$120,569,593
258..Stir Crazy (1980)..$101,500,000
Total.$1,402,532,833
7 of his movies have grossed over $200,000,000 internationally:
TitleGross
Shrek (2001)..$455,100,000
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)..$316,300,000
Mulan (1998)..$303,500,000
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)..$299,900,000
Doctor Dolittle (1998).$290,100,000
Coming to America (1988)..$288,700,000
Nutty Professor, The (1996)..$269,300,000
Total$1,934,200,000
Just his "block buster" movies have grossed well over $2,000,000,000 (with Daddy Daycare factored in). Check that all-time box office list for yourself. Eddie's the only $2 billion actor in Hollywood. He's in George Lucas and Steven Speilberg territory! BTW, Daddy Daycare should be his tenth $100,000,000 movie.
I'd say there is nothing wrong with Eddie. And if his studio is smart, they'll let him make any movie he wants (even his "flops" are profitable and that's the name of the game).
Robert -
gallstoned — 22 years ago(June 21, 2003 06:37 AM)
To hell with profit - the guy used to USE his comedic talent to make great films; i dont care how much money they make, his new films are, on the whole, AWFUL. This is a discussion about how unfunny he's become, not how much money he makes. What the beep ARE you, a banker?
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rbivins — 22 years ago(June 21, 2003 08:53 PM)
gallstoned,
When a guys career goes south, his movies stop making money. Projects that he touches continue to make money. I therefor offer that as proof that he is: 1) still very funny to millions of viewers (including me who's seem every film he's made), and 2) his films are very relevent (as eveidenced in the sheer number of years and successful movies he's able to continually make).
Very few movies/charecters make me laugh out loud in a movie theater. Eddie does it for me. Jim does it for me (on occasion). And Martin can get me as well. That's why I plunk down my $9.50.
Klumps was VERY funny. Axel is a very funny charecter. The donkey, the dragon. Funny. However, if you did not laugh, I wouldn't fault Eddie. What makes me laugh does not make everyone else laugh.
Robert