Review: Dolemite is my name [Netflix 2019]

“Dolemite is my name, and fuckin’ up motherfuckers is my game”. The catchphrase of the new Netflix film, “Dolemite is my name”, directed by Craig Brewer and starring Eddie Murphy, about the real life story of performer Rudy Ray Moore, who assumed the role of an iconic pimp named Dolemite during the 1970s.

I loved this movie. It might not be directed at me (I’m a white, Orthodox female from Eastern Europe), but I sure did enjoyed it. It’s funny, entertaining, sweet and upbeat. In a sea of negative topics of misery and drama and racism and shootings, we need to be able to escape into something sweet and easy to watch. Queer Eye is that for me, sometimes. “Dolemite is my name” can also be that…for anyone. 

The movie tells the story of a Rudy Ray Moore, a run-down musician who, in order to be famous and get known, creates a grandiose character named Dolemite. It quickly catches on and soon becomes a star. He then realizes that it isn’t enough, and sets the goal of making a movie. At least half of the Netflix film tells the story of the making of the Dolemite movie, and it’s great. He get Wesley Snipes playing the director and Kodi Smit-McPhee as the DOP (such a weird looking kid, but so interesting to watch). It all ends on a positive note, of course.

The greatness of “Dolemite is my name” is mostly due to Eddie Murphy. I hadn’t seen him in a long time on the screeen, and I was pleasantly surprised by his tenacity and infectious energy. He was fantastic and whilst he could have gone over the top (like Wesley Snipes did), luckly he didn’t. He carried the movie and did a wonderful job. Major props to Keegan-Michael Key, Tituss Burgess, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and my favorite, Craig Robinson (Doug Judy from Brooklyn 99), for being great sidekicks. Also gotta mention Snoop Dog, who had a great cameo.

Overall, “Dolemite is my name” is a sweet, entertaining movie with a fantastic performance by Eddie Murphy. You have to see it!