Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Eddie Murphy | ... | Rudy | |
Keegan-Michael Key | ... | Jerry | |
Mike Epps | ... | Jimmy | |
Craig Robinson | ... | Ben | |
Tituss Burgess | ... | Toney | |
Da'Vine Joy Randolph | ... | Lady Reed | |
Kodi Smit-McPhee | ... | Nick | |
Snoop Dogg | ... | Roj | |
Ron Cephas Jones | ... | Ricco | |
Barry Shabaka Henley | ... | Demond | |
T.I. | ... | Walter Crane (as Tip 'TI' Harris) | |
Luenell | ... | Aunt | |
Tasha Smith | ... | Jimmy's Wife | |
Wesley Snipes | ... | D'Urville | |
Chris Rock | ... | Bobby Vale |
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.
"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.