Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Dolemite Is My Name (2019) is a lively, heartwarming biopic that follows real-life entertainer Rudy Ray Moore (played with electric charisma by Eddie Murphy) as he turns his raunchy, larger-than-life alter ego Dolemite into a surprising 1970s blaxploitation phenomenon. Equal parts raucous comedy and earnest drama, the film traces Moore’s journey from struggling nightclub comic and record seller to self-financed filmmaker who refuses to let industry rejections stop him. Along the way you’ll see the messy, joyous process of making a low-budget cult movie—rehearsals, improvisation, chaotic on-set moments and the fierce loyalty of a ragtag cast and crew. If you watch it, expect to laugh—often loudly—at Moore’s outrageous stage persona and the film’s bold, bawdy humor, but also to feel genuinely moved by the story of perseverance, creative risk-taking and the desire to give a community a hero of its own. The movie blends behind-the-scenes filmmaking excitement, period flavor (70s music, fashion and nightlife), and kinetic scenes of Dolemite’s kung-fu, bravado, and storytelling. Eddie Murphy’s magnetic performance is a highlight, supported by colorful turns from the ensemble, and the pacing moves briskly between comedic set pieces and quieter, heartfelt moments. Overall, Dolemite Is My Name is an entertaining, inspiring ride: noisy and profane in all the right ways, visually rich with its era, and ultimately celebratory of a determined artist who bet on himself and won—so viewers leave amused, energized, and oddly uplifted.

Actors: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps

Director: Craig Brewer

Runtime: 118 min

Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama

6.2 /10 76 /100 7.2 /10 7.0 /10