Eddie Murphy? Is That Your Boy?

Imagine That comes out today and it's yet another shit stain on the career that was Eddie Murphy. What in the hell happened to him? When the hell did he become a family film actor? Looking at the films he's made, you'd have to go all the way back to 1988 to find a classic; Coming to America, one of the best films of all time. Yeah, that's right. Go ahead, dispute it.


Comedies never get a fair break, and Eddie Murphy starred in classic after classic in the 80's. Trading Places, 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Best Defense. Ok maybe they weren't all classics but at least he tried. What has he done for us lately? Well let's take a look at all the films he's acted in the last 20 years or so, excluding animated films.

1. Imagine That (2009) .... Evan
2. Meet Dave (2008) .... Dave Ming Cheng
3. Norbit (2007) .... Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong
4. Dreamgirls (2006) .... James 'Thunder' Early
5. The Haunted Mansion (2003) .... Jim Evers
   
6. Daddy Day Care (2003) .... Charlie Hinton
7. I Spy (2002) .... Kelly
   
8. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) .... Pluto
   
9. Showtime (2002) .... Officer Trey Sellars
10. Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) .... Dr. John Dolittle
    
11. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) .... Sherman Klump
    
12. Bowfinger (1999) .... Kit Ramsey
13. Life (1999/I) .... Rayford Gibson
14. Holy Man (1998) .... G
15. Doctor Dolittle (1998) .... Dr. John Dolittle
16. Metro (1997) .... Insp. Scott Roper
17. The Nutty Professor (1996) .... Sherman Klump
18. Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) .... Maximillian
    
19. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) .... Det. Axel Foley
20. The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) .... Thomas Jefferson Johnson
21. Boomerang (1992) .... Marcus
22. Another 48 Hrs. (1990) .... Reggie Hammond
    
23. Harlem Nights (1989) .... Quick

In the last 20 years he's made 3 good films. 3! Out of 23! And I'm including The Nutty Professor on that list. Do these family films make money? I guess they must or they wouldn't keep making them. Does he make these type of movies now because he has kids? Could be. We know it killed George Lucas' creative spark.


What he needs to do is start doing stand-up again. Get up on stage man! Do some new material! Do SNL one mo' time! We all know he has it in him to be king again.

Paul: This is of course not the first time Coming To America has been referenced on this site.


Myles: Ok, someone just reminded me Eddie Murphy is going to portray Richard Pryor in an upcoming biopic directed by Bill Condon. This is a step in the right direction and I will be the first to say he will without a doubt get a nomination for his portrayal. I will also be the first to say he will lose out to Alan Arkin. Again.