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IMDbPro

Dolemite Is My Name

  • 20192019
  • RR
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
60K
YOUR RATING
Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Keegan-Michael Key, Tituss Burgess, Toni Duclottni, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph in Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.
Play trailer2:57
16 Videos
75 Photos
  • Biography
  • Comedy
  • Drama
Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s B... Read allEddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
60K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Craig Brewer
  • Writers
    • Scott Alexander
    • Larry Karaszewski
  • Stars
    • Eddie Murphy
    • Keegan-Michael Key
    • Mike Epps
Top credits
  • Director
    • Craig Brewer
  • Writers
    • Scott Alexander
    • Larry Karaszewski
  • Stars
    • Eddie Murphy
    • Keegan-Michael Key
    • Mike Epps
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 360User reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 30 wins & 67 nominations

    Videos16

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:57
    Official Trailer
    Dolemite Is My Name
    Trailer 2:56
    Dolemite Is My Name
    The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
    Clip 3:31
    The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Clip 4:51
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    5 Takeaways from TIFF 2019
    Clip 4:06
    5 Takeaways from TIFF 2019
    Craig Robinson Didn't Think "The Office" Would Be a Success
    Clip 1:40
    Craig Robinson Didn't Think "The Office" Would Be a Success
    'Dolemite' Cast Share What Eddie Murphy Was Really Like on Set
    Clip 10:55
    'Dolemite' Cast Share What Eddie Murphy Was Really Like on Set
    How Ruth E. Carter Made the 'Dolemite' Cast Look Fly
    Clip 1:18
    How Ruth E. Carter Made the 'Dolemite' Cast Look Fly
    Wesley Snipes Gives a Sneak Peek of His 'Coming 2 America' Role
    Clip 1:04
    Wesley Snipes Gives a Sneak Peek of His 'Coming 2 America' Role
    Everything You Need to Know for TIFF 2019
    Clip 7:03
    Everything You Need to Know for TIFF 2019
    Dolemite Is My Name
    Clip 0:47
    Dolemite Is My Name
    Dolemite Is My Name
    Clip 0:37
    Dolemite Is My Name

    Photos75

    Eddie Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Bob Odenkirk at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Wesley Snipes at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Wesley Snipes at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Wesley Snipes at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Wesley Snipes at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Wesley Snipes at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Eddie Murphy and Craig Brewer at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Samuel L. Jackson at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Eddie Murphy at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Tituss Burgess at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
    Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Keegan-Michael Key, Dave Karger, Tituss Burgess, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph at an event for Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Eddie Murphy
    Eddie Murphy
    • Rudyas Rudy
    Keegan-Michael Key
    Keegan-Michael Key
    • Jerryas Jerry
    Mike Epps
    Mike Epps
    • Jimmyas Jimmy
    Craig Robinson
    Craig Robinson
    • Benas Ben
    Tituss Burgess
    Tituss Burgess
    • Toneyas Toney
    Da'Vine Joy Randolph
    Da'Vine Joy Randolph
    • Lady Reedas Lady Reed
    Kodi Smit-McPhee
    Kodi Smit-McPhee
    • Nickas Nick
    Snoop Dogg
    Snoop Dogg
    • Rojas Roj
    Ron Cephas Jones
    Ron Cephas Jones
    • Riccoas Ricco
    Barry Shabaka Henley
    Barry Shabaka Henley
    • Demondas Demond
    T.I.
    T.I.
    • Walter Craneas Walter Crane
    • (as Tip 'TI' Harris)
    Luenell
    Luenell
    • Auntas Aunt
    Tasha Smith
    Tasha Smith
    • Jimmy's Wifeas Jimmy's Wife
    Wesley Snipes
    Wesley Snipes
    • D'Urvilleas D'Urville
    Chris Rock
    Chris Rock
    • Bobby Valeas Bobby Vale
    Aleksandar Filimonovic
    Aleksandar Filimonovic
    • Joseph Biharias Joseph Bihari
    Ivo Nandi
    Ivo Nandi
    • Julius Biharias Julius Bihari
    Michael Peter Bolus
    Michael Peter Bolus
    • Lester Biharias Lester Bihari
    • Director
      • Craig Brewer
    • Writers
      • Scott Alexander
      • Larry Karaszewski
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most vintage Rudy Ray Moore movie scenes are recreated in their entirety with modern actors. However, in the house escape scene ("Bitch, are you for real?!") from The Human Tornado (1976), only the close-up shots of Moore were replaced, so Eddie Murphy appears to interact with the original supporting cast.
    • Goofs
      While the film tells the story of the making of Dolemite (1975), the car chase, the Cadillac exploding, and the sex scene are from the sequel, The Human Tornado (1976). The scenes are intentionally included as a nod to Moore's later film.
    • Quotes

      Rudy Ray Moore: Dolemite is my name, and fuckin' up motherfuckers is my game!

    • Connections
      Featured in Best of the Worst: Petey Wheatstraw (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Let's Get It On
      Written by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend

      Performed by Marvin Gaye

      Courtesy of Motown Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews360

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Dolemite is dynamite!
    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!
    helpful•61
    19
    • ferguson-6
    • Oct 7, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tên Tôi Là Dolemite
    • Filming locations
      • 2636 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Davis Entertainment
      • Netflix
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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