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.

Director:

Craig Brewer

Writers:

Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski

Stars:

Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 30 wins & 64 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | actor | vinyl | netflix | netflix original | 

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Taglines:

Make your own legend.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, crude sexual content, and graphic nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eddie Murphy and Cheryl Francis Harrington previously co-starred in The PJs (1999).

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Goofs

At around 10 min. there is a Lipton tea with a Rainforest Alliance logo (green frog) on the table. The Rainforest Alliance only exists since 1987 while the movie takes place in the 1970s.

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Quotes

[to crowds outside the theatre where his film is showing]
Rudy Ray Moore: Hello, all you motherfuckers!
[gets cheers]
Rudy Ray Moore: Yes, ladies and gentlemen. I just want to say it's a pleasure to have y'all come out here tonight, but I'm sorry to tell you, it's going to be a bit of a wait!
[gets groans]
Rudy Ray Moore: But don't worry. Don't nobody leave, because I promise you it's going to be worth it! Because like I always say: Dolemite is my name, and rapping and tapping is my game. Yes, I'm young and free, and just as bad as I wanna to be!...

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Connections

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

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Soundtracks

Rocky Bottom
Written and Performed by Jason Freeman featuring Blind Mississippi Morris
Courtesy of BR2 Music

User Reviews

A typical biopic buoyed by its unrelenting hilarity, its affection for its subject and commitment to the time and place it is set.

"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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dolemite Is My Name

Filming Locations:

2636 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davis Entertainment, Netflix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1