This is an advance review out of the Toronto International Film Festival. Dolemite Is My Name debuts on Netflix later this year.
At the start of Dolemite is My Name, the film’s hero Rudy Ray Moore – played by Eddie Murphy – is told “Sometimes our dreams just don’t come true.” His response? “They still can.” A simple, optimistic riposte that nicely sums up Rudy’s character, as well as this entertaining biopic’s message of never giving up, no matter what the world tells you. And while director Craig Brewer’s film is a pretty superficial examination of Rudy’s life and times, it’s nevertheless a blast from start-to-finish, and Murphy’s funniest star vehicle in years.
Rudy Ray Moore was a remarkable man who made his mark in movies very much on his own terms. He spent the 1960s and early ‘70s working as a singer, dancer and stand-up comic, but in spite of a strong work ethic and seemingly endless supply of positivity, Rudy never quite made it. Inspiration strikes when he comes up with a new act inspired by a foul-mouthed hobo. Rudy sets about creating a larger-than-life persona and in one of the movie’s most entertaining scenes, Murphy mugs in front of a mirror, donning big hair and bright suits, and combining attitude and swagger with a fast-talking patter that’s a funky precursor to rap. Dolemite is the name, and pimping is his game.
Source: IGN.com Dolemite Is My Name Review