Netflix's latest biopic, "Being Eddie", is a documentary that delves into the life of comedy legend Eddie Murphy. While not his best film or worst, it provides a glimpse into his 40-plus year career and serves as a platform for him to reflect on his experiences.
The documentary begins by showcasing Murphy's lavish lifestyle, including his gothic mansion with a retractable roof. However, he quickly reveals that his daily routine is quite ordinary, spending time with family, watching TV shows like "Ridiculousness", and even preferring to binge-watch bloopers over reruns of his greatest hits.
Murphy's claim to being one of the funniest people in history is reinforced by director Angus Wall, who has worked with other notable comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld. These nods to Murphy's comedic prowess come at a time when some of his peers have become increasingly out of touch.
Throughout the documentary, Murphy opens up about his troubled past, including a tumultuous home life on Long Island, where he witnessed his parents fighting as one of his earliest memories. He also discusses his transition from being a hot comedian to a smoldering sex symbol and the media's portrayal of him against Richard Pryor, whom he ultimately directed in the 1989 comedy "Harlem Nights".
Wall uses some armchair psychology to explore Murphy's behavior, such as how paying for the funeral arrangements of famous friends relates to his earlier struggles with loss. However, these discussions sometimes feel forced and lack depth.
The documentary also leaves out several notable milestones in Murphy's life, including a 1997 arrest that raised eyebrows, his 14-day marriage to producer Tracey Edmonds, and his initial rejection of the daughter he fathered with Mel B. The omission of these incidents makes it difficult to view Murphy as a truly nuanced figure.
One of the most puzzling aspects of "Being Eddie" is its treatment of Murphy's return to Saturday Night Live (SNL) after spurning the show for decades. While Murphy credits this moment with prompting him to change his approach, the documentary glosses over the controversy surrounding his departure without providing context or any insight from SNL cast members.
In the end, "Being Eddie" feels like a tease, leaving viewers with more questions than answers about Murphy's life and career. The final act's attempt at closure, where Murphy is presented with ventriloquist dolls made to look like Pryor and Cosby, rings hollow, and one can't help but wonder what it would take for the film to truly deliver.
"Being Eddie" is available now on Netflix, and while it offers some fleeting glimpses into the life of a comedy legend, its shortcomings make it feel more like a publicity stunt than a genuine exploration of Murphy's experiences.
The documentary begins by showcasing Murphy's lavish lifestyle, including his gothic mansion with a retractable roof. However, he quickly reveals that his daily routine is quite ordinary, spending time with family, watching TV shows like "Ridiculousness", and even preferring to binge-watch bloopers over reruns of his greatest hits.
Murphy's claim to being one of the funniest people in history is reinforced by director Angus Wall, who has worked with other notable comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld. These nods to Murphy's comedic prowess come at a time when some of his peers have become increasingly out of touch.
Throughout the documentary, Murphy opens up about his troubled past, including a tumultuous home life on Long Island, where he witnessed his parents fighting as one of his earliest memories. He also discusses his transition from being a hot comedian to a smoldering sex symbol and the media's portrayal of him against Richard Pryor, whom he ultimately directed in the 1989 comedy "Harlem Nights".
Wall uses some armchair psychology to explore Murphy's behavior, such as how paying for the funeral arrangements of famous friends relates to his earlier struggles with loss. However, these discussions sometimes feel forced and lack depth.
The documentary also leaves out several notable milestones in Murphy's life, including a 1997 arrest that raised eyebrows, his 14-day marriage to producer Tracey Edmonds, and his initial rejection of the daughter he fathered with Mel B. The omission of these incidents makes it difficult to view Murphy as a truly nuanced figure.
One of the most puzzling aspects of "Being Eddie" is its treatment of Murphy's return to Saturday Night Live (SNL) after spurning the show for decades. While Murphy credits this moment with prompting him to change his approach, the documentary glosses over the controversy surrounding his departure without providing context or any insight from SNL cast members.
In the end, "Being Eddie" feels like a tease, leaving viewers with more questions than answers about Murphy's life and career. The final act's attempt at closure, where Murphy is presented with ventriloquist dolls made to look like Pryor and Cosby, rings hollow, and one can't help but wonder what it would take for the film to truly deliver.
"Being Eddie" is available now on Netflix, and while it offers some fleeting glimpses into the life of a comedy legend, its shortcomings make it feel more like a publicity stunt than a genuine exploration of Murphy's experiences.
, they just gloss over all the messy stuff in murphy's past to make him out to be some kinda saint. and what's up with the weird finale? those ventriloquist dolls just feel like a cheap attempt to tug at the heartstrings... it's like they're trying to make us think he's all about forgiveness and closure when really, that's not even close to being true. and honestly, i'm kinda surprised they didn't delve deeper into his relationships with people like pryor or rock, those are some of the most interesting parts of his life... it feels like this doc is just trying to make us love eddie murphy instead of actually showing us who he is 
. They barely showed him trying out new material or even talking about his early struggles with comedy. Nowadays, they just wanna make you feel all warm and fuzzy about him 
. I mean, what's the point of making a documentary if you're just gonna leave out the good stuff? It feels like they were more worried about makin' him look all likable and relatable rather than really gettin' to know the dude 
. And that final act with the ventriloquist dolls... 
it's like they thought that would magically fix everything, lol. Overall, I'd say this docu is just a bit of a tease, ya know?
. where's the real depth? the nuance? it's like they're just trying to make him out to be some kinda hero or whatever 
. but honestly, it feels more like a marketing ploy than a genuine doc about his life 
.
Sometimes I think we get too caught up in trying to present everyone as flawless that we end up missing the real story altogether. With "Being Eddie", it feels like Netflix is just showcasing a highlight reel instead of letting us see the full picture.
. And don't even get me started on how they presented him with those ventriloquist dolls made to look like Pryor and Cosby. It just felt like a weak attempt at closure. I need more answers, you know? 
... what's up with leaving out that 1997 arrest? I mean, come on, it's not exactly some juicy scandal, but still. And don't even get me started on how they glossed over his departure from SNL - no context or anything! It feels like they just wanted to promote the show and not actually tell a story 
I'm not sure if "Being Eddie" is a hit or miss for me... 
. That's crazy! 
But on the other hand, with an estimated budget of $20 million, it seems like there's still room for growth 
.
The film's viewership stats are looking promising, though - 85% of audience members gave it a positive review 
. However, when we look at the demographics, it's interesting to see that 70% of viewers were between 25-44 years old 
.
. But what about his mental health? According to a recent study, comedians are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than the general population 
. Perhaps we need to have more conversations like this in the entertainment industry?
Not buying it. Maybe next doco can do a better job of showing his ups and downs? 
But on the other hand, like, isn't it weird that they left out some pretty big chunks of his history? It's like, yeah sure, let's show off his mansion and his family life, but what about all the drama he got himself into along the way? 
And don't even get me started on how glossed over his SNL return was - I mean, come on, that was a major scandal! 
But, like, doesn't some of the armchair psychology stuff feel a bit forced? And what's up with the ventriloquist dolls thing at the end? 
But I guess you can't fit everything into 2 hours of a documentary... Still, I love seeing behind-the-scenes glimpses of his lavish lifestyle 