Dolemite is My Name

Dolemite is My Name embodies the same crowd pleasing energy that Rudy Ray Moore rode to stardom. It is a film that is technically and narratively lacking in-depth but knows its audience and what they want to see. And what they want to see is Eddie Murphy giving a shit again. 

The film is a sort of biopic/behind the scenes story about legendary black comedian Rudy Ray Moore, his rise to prominence, and the production of his feature film debut Dolemite. The writing team of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski channel the energy of Ed Wood to craft a story not just about the legend of Ray Moore himself, but the audience that he aimed to please. What could have been another entry in the tired genre of “man achieves success only to lose sight of who he actually is” is pleasantly tossed aside in favor of a story that is enriched with a sense of community. Ray Moore’s crew aren’t with him in pursuit of fame or riches, they simply want to be a part of something that they all can enjoy. 

That sense of community is what elevates this past the point of your typical “let’s make a movie” movie. While the star chasing spirit of Hollywood filmmaking inevitably stirs this film into action, there is a clear desire to be heard and represented coming from the entirety of this star-studded cast of characters. The clearest example of this is the character of Lady Reed, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. She is a struggling single mother cherry picked by Ray Moore himself due to her larger than life presence. She is anything but the typical starlet that the films of her era were looking for, but despite that, she is cast for the film based on Reed’s own merits. Before the premiere, Reed professes her appreciation for her involvement in the film, stating that she has never seen anyone like her on the silver screen. This longing for representation is sprinkled all throughout the film, making it more than what it seems. 

At the center of all of this, however, is Eddie Murphy, who infuses the charm and likability needed to make a character like this work. It’s no secret that Murphy has been on a downward trajectory since his heyday in the 80’s coasting from Shrek movie to Shrek movie, with the occasional Oscar bait garbage thrown in. It’s this sad state of affairs that adds a sort of meta element to his portrayal of Ray Moore. There are obvious parallels between him and the character; both are aging vulgar comedians looking for a second chance. But Murphy draws from these parallels in a way that ultimately enhances the performance, causing him to be the emotional core of the entire film. He is sympathetic without being pathetic, and by the time Ray Moore sees success in the film, it almost feels like Murphy is acting the way he wishes he did, showing sympathy for those around him and not forgetting his roots. 

Dolemite is My Name definitely falls somewhere in the middle of the stellar Ed Wood and the lackluster the Disaster Artist in the burgeoning sub-genre of Cult Bad Filmmaker Biopic. Outside of its emotional appeal, there isn’t really much home to write about in terms of the story or the filmmaking. The very safe, glossy look of the film is very much at odds with the grassroots style of filmmaking it portrays, but the detailed production design at least harkens back to that aesthetic. But if you’re just here to see Eddie Murphy channel that unapologetically black energy that made him a household name, then look no further.