Monday, June 21, 2004
ONE TIMER
I can see why Today's Movie: BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984) made Eddie Murphy a movie star and then left him sucking wind for the rest of his career. One of the NYTimes1176BestFilms, this comedy-action-drama takes his best parts and puts them on show. He follows direction and plays with his fellow actors. I do not think that he ever did it again. The only other film that comes close is BOWFINGER (1999) with Steve Martin who helps hold the Murphy personna in place. In that picture, he plays two roles; a sort of dumb-ass and a big film star like 'himself'. This comparison alone is telling. The 'real' Eddy Murphy is pretty hard to take. The actor Eddy Murphy can be great. There are scenes from that movie that still get me laughing; the one crossing the expressway.......don't get me started.
This film is fun and fast and tight as can be. The intrepid Murphy holds the center but has lots of help. Martin Brest directed (he is the one who did GIGLI with Bennifer). I don't know what else I can say about it. It is a good film but I do not think it is a great film. I give it a 3 out of a Netflix5.
