Synopsis: Uncensored. Uncut. Irresistible.
Raw the #1 concert film of all time is Eddie Murphy doing what he does best: making people laugh. Filmed live at New York’s Felt Forum, Murphy delights, shocks and entertains with dead-on celebrity impersonations; observations on love, sex and marriage; a remembrance of Mom’s hamburgers and much more. Take front-row center seat for the hottest show in town. The hottest comedian in recent entertainment history. And discover that Eddie Murphy’s stand-up comedy performance is one stand-out event.
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I sat down to watch this concert film with the idea of having a few laughs. I knew that this particular stand-up act wasn’t as strong as Eddie Murphy’s first one, ‘Delirious’, but I remembered that he made me laugh every time I’d watched this one before.
And I did – but much less than before.
I think that my problem this time was context: I was watching it with my gf and, unfortunately, about 2/3 of Murphy’s routine is quite literally spent ranting about male-female relationships – but in stereotypical, low-brow ways. So, while I had never bought into any of his so-called “truths” in the past, I felt much more comfortable laughing at how ridiculous it all was – and being taken in by Murphy’s delivery.
Because, while the material is truly dated (it’s from 1987!), Eddie Murphy’s performance is still top notch. I am still very much impressed with how well he could sing, mimic and deliver lines when he was at the top of his game. And I suppose that’s what made him so good then: he had all the talent and had yet to make use of crummy and/or reheated material – something that would stumble his career less than two year later.
All in all, it’s not a bad show. The problem is that the material is so “25 years ago”. So, if you can stand this side of it and focus on the performance, or, if (for some reason!) you have a soft spot for narrow views of male-female relationships, then it’s worth the 90 mins.
thecriticaleye 