Dolemite is my Name

This new film, which just dropped on Netflix, tells the story of Rudy Ray Moore, who created a famous stand-up comedy character named "Dolemite."


The film begins with Eddie Murphy, who plays Moore, working in a record store. He does gigs at a local comedy club, but has no success doing his set. He was once a musician, but did not see success in that as well. Hegoes to his boss in the record store, played by Snoop Dogg, and tries to get a deal to record some of the music he'd written. His boss blows him off, and basically tells him to get back to work.

He and his friend Theodore, played by Titus Burgess, work in the record store together, and deal with the challenges of retail work, including kicking out patrons who come into the store while intoxicated. It's in one of these encounters that Rudy gets a brilliant idea-to create a character to perform stand up comedy. He seeks out the drunk patron he kicks out daily, in an effort to resource material for his stand-up character. Rudy then creates the character "Dolemite" after one of the stories the drunk patron tells.

The next time he performs at the comedy club, Moore performs the Dolemite character, which he has created to look like a pimp. In other gigs at the club, he barely got a yawn. This time, with a new set of material and a new character to perform, he's a hit!! He then begins to record his comedy sets, which he then sells at the record store he works at. It's all uphill from there.

Before watching this film, I thought the most profane film I had watched in my life was "Straight Outta Compton." This movie might be as equally as profane. That being said, this movie brilliantly shows the power of creation, the fortitude in pursuing a dream, and perseverance. And more importantly: if there's something you want to do, don't let anyone ever tell you no.

Also starring Wesley Snipes, Keegan Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, now in theaters and on Netflix, 5 enthusiastic stars.