Dolemite Is My Name

Eddie Murphy harks back to the blaxploitation cinema of the 1970s and his own stand-up roots in a broad comedy about cult real-life entertainer Rudy Ray Moore, the "Dolemite" of the title being Moore's most notorious on-stage alter ego. Having scored success with a string of expletive-riddled albums, Moore (Murphy) sets out to achieve movie fame, repositioning his celebrated character as an ass-kicking action hero, but faces obstacles and opposition from an overwhelmingly white film industry. Both Murphy and director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) display obvious affection for the black pop culture of the period, and skilfully weave a subtle civil rights message into the laughs and nostalgia. Perhaps because the lead character shares so many elements of his younger self, Murphy gives one of his most satisfying performances, while Wesley Snipes adds to the fun as the sozzled thespian-turned-director appalled by Moore's amateurish exploits.