Can I get “Iconic comedian who made fun movie after fun movie before suddenly disappearing” for 500? If we were making a top 10 list of the best comedians to make a slew of movies, Eddie would be on there. With his return to the big screen(or whatever size screen your TV is for Netflix) we decided to give him the full attention with a list of his top 10 movies.
I haven’t watched this since I was a kid, so I am reflecting on this with nostalgia glasses. Everything I remember as I look back on this movie is awesomeness: Eddie Murphy’s humor, the legit scares, the absolute blast of a time discovering the mansion. I loved this movie so much that I even played the video game. Everyone knows that video games made from movies are almost always cash grabbing nonsense but even the video game was good! In a world in which everything is being remade, I would be thrilled to see an aged Eddie Murphy conquer another haunted house. (Blake Hodges)
Have you ever laughed so hard that you make no noise and physically hurt? Well, that’s me every time I watch The Nutty Professor. Eddie Murphy stars as Dr. Sherman Klump—among a slew of other characters—who’s an awkwardly lovable if not conventionally attractive guy. He comes up with a way to make himself look more “attractive” and hijinks ensue. Eddie Murphy has made a career of making great comedies, but in my opinion none have succeeded as much as this one. From the unforgettable characters, to the stand-up comic scene with Dave Chapelle, to the greatest scenes in comedy with the dinner table scenes; this movie fires away all of the laughs! If you haven’t seen this comedy classic, shame on you. (Ben Davis)
What is Eddie Murphy so well know for? Playing so many different characters inside the same movies. What really makes this trend so successful? Coming to America of course! What a cast this film has. Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, a little Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Eddie Murphy, and so much more Eddie Murphy! Murphy plays a prince unhappy with his lot in life and just wants to live a little. Where to go? Queens (get it)! He learns American customs from a wonderful woman and her family as he tries to find his own path. What lines his path through the film? Plenty more Eddie Murphy. You get fat, shameless singer Eddie Murphy who plays church events. You get angry and opinionated barber Eddie Murphy who will argue with just about anyone. And by far my personal favorite…white Jewish Old Man Murphy. He is so hilarious in all of his forms that you wish that he just played everyone on screen. But the most important thing is to try the soup! (Shane Conto)
This movie is iconic. Birthing memes, revitalising bands’ careers, and still being relevant 18 years later, it’s managed to bring about 3 sequels, a bunch of mini movies, a spin off movie, Netflix series, and a very successful musical! This success is in no small part due to Eddie Murphy’s’ fantastic portrayal as the effervescent sidekick: Donkey! His energetic line reading, iconic voice and fantastic joke delivery always manage to bring a smile to my face. It’s the story of a terrifying ogre and his jovial pet donkey, and it’s one for the ages. Who would have thought that a buck-toothed quadruped is the role that would still stand strong years later, for children and adults alike. Not to mention really showing off his singing skills. Taking the fairy-tale trope, and all its familiar characters, and giving them agency and way of acting that really allowed its voice cast to show off through the innuendos and ‘over-the-head jokes it slings around, while keeping the under 10 crowd laughing along with the fart jokes and fun colours. It’s wacky, it’s insane and it’s easily forgivable through its many types of humour. Let’s also not forget its key message: it’s what’s on the inside that matters. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
Social satire can be a tricky beast. Push too far to the satire and it can come off preachy or treacly. Push too far the other and it can lose its teeth. Landis seems to find a great balance here with Eddie and Dan Akroyd making a deal to see where true success comes from. It’s both funny and sharp, and worth taking a look at. (Aaron Dicer)
What an underappreciated gem of a comedy. Eddie Murphy has been in so many great films in his prime that some films just have to fall to the wayside. It is unfortunate that this one received that treatment. We all need more of Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy in our lives. Isn’t that the truth? How about Steve Martin and two Eddie Murphy’s? That is what you get in Bowfinger. Martin is a down on his luck director who wants to get a movie star, Murphy, into his film. What is the next best thing? Tricking his nerdy and oblivious twin brother into it instead (also Murphy obviously)! Eddie Murphy does his thing by digging his teeth into multiple and very different roles that both deliver in laughs and charm (one of the jerkish charm at that). A movie about making movies starring Eddie Murphy playing a movie star being impersonated by Eddie Murphy who also plays the brother of said movie star. What is not to love? (Shane Conto)
It’s easy to forget in time how much of an explosion Eddie Murphy made when he jumped onto the screen for the first time in 48 Hrs. Do yourself a favor and go back about 326,256 hours (Yes, I did the math) to 1982 and relive this incredibly kinetic buddy cop film. Murphy is character cocaine here, as engaging as he is hilarious, and Nolte proves a perfect foil. Plain and simple, Eddie Murphy was born here, and you are all invited to the christening. (Aaron Dicer)
Dreamgirls follows the history and evolution of American R&B music during the 1960s and 1970s through the eyes of the Detroit singing girl group The Dreams and their manipulative record executive. So what does Eddie Murphy have to deal with this film? Murphy plays Jimmy ‘Thunder’ Early, a jarring performer on the music label and has an unfaithful affair with one of the singers from the girl group. His spotlight fades, while the girl group was soaring sky high. As a result, he falls into depression along with a drug addiction, which eventually ended his career. It’s not often to ever see Mr. Murphy in a drama or better yet a musical (but he did have somewhat of a singing career in the 80s). Murphy was praised for his role as the demised singer. Even though the film isn’t focused on him, we got to see his dramatic side with a splash of funny. His role was outstanding and definitely deserved acclaim where it was due. The role garnered Oscar buzz, which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (but he lost out to Alan Arkin, which I believed he was robbed) and won a Golden Globe. Murphy was a bonafide movie star, but I think the film Dreamgirls struck the match again for the star power this man truly was. (Chantal Ashford)
It’s been over a decade now that Disney has decided to ditch their traditional 2D animation style for kid’s films, so I was excited when I found a reason to revisit one of Disney’s animated films pre 2000’s. For anyone unfamiliar with Mulan, it’s a movie where our Main lead Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) decides to protect her father from being called into battle after she secretly takes his place to fight in a forming army to defeat their enemies known as The Huns, before they take over China. She must convince the army throughout the film that she is a man so that she is not executed and continue to fight. This is where Mushu (Eddie Murphy) comes in to play, he’s the funny little sidekick who is where a majority of the films humor comes in, as he also helps her hide her secret and give her guidance. I think that Mulan’s animation is great, not just because it’s Disney but because of how smooth it is. Also the music here is pretty entertaining as well, with one of the songs being one of the best in Disney’s history in my opinion. One could always assume that Disney can’t fail when it comes to animated features, and Mulan only helps in making that case more accurate. (Alex Henderson)
After a phenomenal stint on Saturday Night Live and two successful films, Eddie Murphy followed up with what would be one of his most memorable characters. That character would be the wise cracking Detroit Detective Axel Foley in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. This film would later build into a franchise due to Eddie Murphy’s charm and screen presence. Axel Foley is a Detroit Cop taking a little vacation time to himself in Beverly Hills in order to solve the case of his murdered friend. This film is the quintessential 80’s Film and is a must see in this era of filmmaking. It packs a great synth score and Murphy puts on a show as the titular character Axel Foley. His reckless, but effective tactics make the film really exciting and gives it so much energy. There is a constant Cat and Mouse game going on between the local Beverly Hills Cops. They are desperately trying to prevent Foley from solving his case/disturbing a local hot shot art dealer. Beverly Hills Cop creates the perfect template for creating a great Action Comedy film. There are great comedic moments, awesome car chases and classic shootouts. The fish out of water scenario in the film plays out really well and Foley plays a great perspective character for the viewer. Everything to him seems absurd and outlandish when he steps foot in Beverly Hills. Especially in the way he is treated and the film does an excellent job of showing that he is in unfamiliar territory, but he is uncompromising when it comes to his goal. Beverly Hills Cop solidified that Eddie Murphy was a rising star and a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. (Joseph Vargas)
Honorable Mentions
Shrek 2
Fire up the oven Muffin Man! We’ve got a big order to fill! When we talk about the best sequels of all time, especially ones that surpass the originals, we think of some classic examples: Terminator 2, The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight), LotR The Two Towers, Silence of the Lambs, The Wrath of Khan, Superman 2, The Good The Bad and the Ugly (that one’s for you, Andrew), Shrek 2… Wait, what? That’s right, I said it! Meme Culture aside, the first Shrek movie is pretty great, but far from perfect. It takes the fairytale genre and flips it on its head. What Shrek 2 does is really something special. It introduces familiar elements with a twist, brings a new slew of jokes, and introduces a few characters you can’t help but fall in love with. The giant gingerbread man is one of my favorite sequences in any Dreamworks film and there is absolutely no character more lovable than Puss in Boots. After watching Shrek 2, the original just feels like something is missing and that something missing is Antonio Banderas’ adorable fighting-Spanish-cat; I didn’t know I needed that in my life until I saw this movie. At the end of the day, any movie with a rendition of “Holding Out For A Hero”, especially at the climax, is A-Okay in my books! (Aaron Schweitzer)
Also See:
Boomerang & Doctor Dolittle