This is topic Eddie Murphy isn't funny anymore! in forum « 80's Movies at iRewind Talk.


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Posted by StevenHW (Member # 509) on :
 
I'm not a big fan of Eddie Murphy, though I did enjoy several of his films back in the 80's.

But has anyone else on this group think that his career (or choices in movie projects) seems to have gradually gone downhill for the last 10 years?

An early indication of his downward slide was his first real flop by writing, directing, producing, and starring in "Harlem Nights" (1989), which was a major disappointment. That was a case of trying to do too much at the same time, but also his ego got the better of him.

He now wastes his energy, time, and talent on such so-called "family-friendly" garbage like "Daddy Day Care", "The Adventures of Pluto Nash", and the remake of "Doctor Doolittle". And don't get me started on the sequels of his "Beverly Hills Cop" and "48 Hours" movies!

To be fair, I *DID* like him in the remake of "The Nutty Professor" and his co-starring role in "Bowfinger" (a self-parody). And I really enjoyed "Shrek", although his part was just a voice-over.

I think the turning point was his marriage in 1993. And now that he has a family of his own, he wants to make the kind of movies that he would take his own kids to see. Now, I can understand that...but where's the Eddie Murphy that we knew and loved back in the 80's, when he had that raw, cutting-edge humor?

What do the rest of you think?
 

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Posted by McFly (Member # 354) on :
 
Totally agree. But not just he last 10 years, the last 20 years for me. He did 48 Hours and became a bankable star. Trading Places was ok but he wasn't the sole star. He went through the roof with Beverly Hills Cop. But look at his choices after that: The Golden Child, not awful, but not amazing; Cop II was fair; Coming to America was ok; then Harlem Nights, Boomerang, Distinguished Gentleman, Cop III, Vampire in Brooklyn, Metro, junk.

Now for the last seven years he's been in remake mode, in stuff I just hate. Even Bowfinger, an original idea, I hated. All his films laughs are based on poop, farts and animals.

He's really been wasted since 1984.
 

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Posted by The Wizard (Member # 533) on :
 
His best work was "Delirious" filmed in 1983, 20 years ago when he was 22. I do like the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy, The Golden Child, Coming to America, Trading Places, 48hrs & other films of the 80s but yeah his latest work I haven't been too interested in, especially haven't seen that Pluto Nash one on purpose.


"A bear and a rabbit..."
 

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Posted by isis9968 (Member # 1780) on :
 
I loved Delirious, that was so funny! We used to say quotes from that constantly!!!! I want to watch that again, it is hilarious! Raw was good too, but not as good. I saw it on a date, and these old people walked out in the middle of it, that were sitting in front of us.

I know the guy in Daddy Day Care, with Eddie- Jeff Garlin, I have meet him, he is good friends with my friend Eddie who is the stand up comedian.

My friend-Eddie, has actually opened for Eddie Murphy in the past, in the 80's, so that is cool.
 

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Posted by Banshee (Member # 1829) on :
 

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Trading Places was ok

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Only OK? Wow, I think that's one of the few movies that has stood the test of time and is excellent.
However, with the exception of 'Shrek' and 'Coming to America' he's been going downhill (and it sure appears to be a very steep downward-slope) since about '87.
Also can I point out that I truly loathe the Doctor Dolittle (was there more than one?) flick(s) and that 'Nutty Professor' is woeful.
 

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Posted by Jessica Rabbit 2 Russian Rabbit (Member # 1904) on :
 
Here here, i cant stand Dr dolittle or Nutty professor... But sorry to disappoint you all i liked coming to America... I dont know if i would like it now, maybe i was too young to know better.
 

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Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
 
I think he's hilarious! He's one of the funniest stand up comics of all time!

I loved Nutty Professor 1, 2 plained sucked, but not by his fault. The rest of his movies are family oriented now and there is nothing wrong with that.

He has grown as an actor and a person which I think is cool. He is serious about his family and his film choices reflect that.

I think he's great! And he is VERY funny! The Golden Child rocks!
 

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Posted by jlp937 (Member # 1877) on :
 
I agree with McFly. He was funny in the majority of his 80s film, and then in the 90's he just turned to family entertainment. Who can actually sit and watch him in the Nutty Professor and not think of him in RAW. It would kind of like seeing Andrew Dice Clay play in family roles. Little Miss Muffett....., that is the only way I can see him.
 

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Posted by jlp937 (Member # 1877) on :
 
I agree with McFly. He was funny in the majority of his 80s film, and then in the 90's he just turned to family entertainment. Who can actually sit and watch him in the Nutty Professor and not think of him in RAW. It would kind of like seeing Andrew Dice Clay play in family roles. Little Miss Muffett....., that is the only way I can see him.
 

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Posted by StevenHW (Member # 509) on :
 
Parts of Ali_with_an_i's post, in segments:

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I think he's hilarious! He's one of the funniest stand-up comics of all time!

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...I loved Nutty Professor 1, #2 plained sucked, but not by his fault. The rest of his movies are family-oriented now and there is nothing wrong with that.

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I largely agree. And I can understand that. He has six kids, all pre-teens, and I can't fault him for making movies that he can show to his own kids. By the way, I did like "Nutty Professor 1", but I have no interest in seeing the sequel.

But as McFly here pointed out, too much jokes in his recent films are "toilet humor". (Body fluids, fecal matter, farting, etc.) If I were Eddie Murphy's kid, I probably would be complaining to him why he makes so many lame movies?

[rant]
I don't even have a problem with toilet humor, but that belongs to R-rated movies, and not in the context of a kiddie film. Walt Disney must be spinning in his grave by now!

I realize that his family are his first priority, more so than his current career. And I actually applaud him for that, because there aren't too many people in show-biz nowadays who put their family above their career.

Eddie is willing to be paid multi-millions of dollars to appear in a film, even if it meant the material isn't worthy of his comedic talents.

According to the IMDB.com, Eddie said, "Every bad decision I've made has been based on money. I grew up in the [housing] projects and you don't turn down money there. You take it, because you never know when it's all going to end. I made "Beverly Hills Cop III" because they offered me $15 million. That $15 million was worth having [film critic] Roger Ebert's thumb up my a$$."

Well, at least Eddie is honest about his motives and his movie decision-making. And hey, if some producer is foolish enough to give multi-millions to Eddie despite an awful script, then I can't blame Eddie for taking the money.

I am going to guess that he will start making more "mature" films and pursue harder-edge material after his kids go to high school or college. Afterwards, he might become the Eddie Murphy we once knew and loved. But the risk is that his popularity would be so low by then, it may never recover.

And that is something we don't need around here: another fading 80's star.
[/rant]
 

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Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
 
I think he has a new audience. It's mostly pre-teens , so his fart jokes probably got them in stitches. I think he's smart if he can "reinvent" himself and introduce himself to a new audience.

Just wait until some of those kids rent Raw or Delerious, that'll be a bit shocking don't you think?
 

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Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
 
Almost forgot, I'd rather have my career end up like Eddie's rather Marlon Brandos. Now thats a sad story.
 

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Posted by thebazman (Member # 1741) on :
 
I have been thinking the same thing for a few years.

Delirious was amazing, outstanding work, i enjoyed the majority of his movies in the 80's Beverly Hills cop trilogy, 48 hours, another 48 hours, trading places, coming to america was ok, but his later movies are terrible with the odd exception like shrek, some like bowfinger and life are watchable but nothing fantastic

id love to see him get back to the way he was, and i guess that means making movies for an adult audience.

Baz
 

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Posted by Devolution (Member # 1731) on :
 
Devolution here,

Ok, I will be short and sweet with this.

A)The Golden Child rocks N E P A L viva NEPAL

B)Trading Places is a huge reason for his success,

C)Just as important as SNL (did we all forget about that?)

D)It all turned for the worse after Vampire in Brooklyn.

E)He was last seen roaming the streets of LA trying to find anyone who knew the whereabouts of his career.

We are DEVO
 

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Posted by McFly (Member # 354) on :
 
And picking up trannies....j/k, sorry Ed.

Steven, don't see Nutty 2. I have it on my worst of all time list. Pretty much goes like this: fart, fat joke, fart, poop, fat joke, actually takes a viagra subplot seriously about one of the many older characters he plays in the film. All topped off with a gigantic hampster molesting the bad guy and launching mammoth feces across a banquet hall.

Turn it off.
 

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Posted by I used to fancy Molly Ringwald (Member # 1884) on :
 
I havn`t bothered watching alot of his newer films
as they just look crap.

I thought BHC 2 and 3 were ok as far as follow up movies go.

You could say the same for Steve Martin who up untill his recent movie "Bringing Down The House" had been really poor....good to see him back on form and being in the remake of the Pink Panther moviess will hopefully signal a return to former glories.
 

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Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
 
Well I still love Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin. If anyone's career has gone down the drain, Chevy Chase gets my vote. He is not funny anymore.
 

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Posted by Banshee (Member # 1829) on :
 

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Almost forgot, I'd rather have my career end up like Eddie's rather Marlon Brandos. Now thats a sad story.

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Well, I still love Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin. If anyone's career has gone down the drain, Chevy Chase gets my vote. He is not funny anymore.

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