The essence of the Eddie Murphy documentary, “Being Eddie,” now streaming on Netflix, is baked into the title.
“I am an artist who can express myself in different ways,” Mr. Murphy says during a seminal moment in the film. “I am not trying to be, or get to … I just am.”
In some ways, it reminds me of a guilty pleasure of mine – DJ Khaled’s “PARTY,” a not-so-radio-friendly sampling of Mr. Murphy’s classic single “Party All the Time.” The 2022 record also features Migos members Quavo and (the late) Takeoff. DJ Khaled was a producer and hype man, Quavo was a frontman for the song, while Takeoff was the behind-the-scenes genius.
Why We Wrote This
Eddie Murphy’s refusal to be typecast is what made him legendary, and also changed the way Hollywood perceived Black actors. A tribute documentary on Netflix, “Being Eddie,” looks at how the comedian finds his center.
Mr. Murphy is all of those things – producer, leading man, and the brains behind countless operations. To quote a movie from the same year, he is everything, everywhere, all at once. He famously started out with impressions of Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby, which he parlayed into a stand-up career and a coveted spot on “Saturday Night Live.”
His refusal to be typecast is what made him legendary, and also changed the way Hollywood perceived Black actors. Mr. Murphy’s career-altering star turn as Reggie Hammond in “48 Hours” was a resounding box-office success that gave him pop and crossover appeal.
So how does a man with so much ability and appeal find his center? Mr. Murphy’s answers and perspectives are what define this documentary.
“When things [are all messed up], you get centered and pray,” he says. “It’s like a tuning fork, you hit it and it’s vibrating, then you can take it and run your fingers down the fork and it stops vibrating. That’s what prayer is like.”
Even when discussing balance, he is seeking a center. “I don’t want to sound all guru-ish,” he says with a light chuckle, one far different from the uproarious laughter that defined his career.
“He’s so leveled,” offers Kenan Thompson of “Saturday Night Live” and Nickelodeon fame. Mr. Thompson’s words are a reminder that “Being Eddie” is about more than one man. It’s about the lineage of Black comedians, from Mr. Pryor to Mr. Murphy to Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and many others. Mr. Murphy’s return to “Saturday Night Live” after a years-long feud was less about the show and more about the comedian’s inspiration to a generation, which included “SNL” alums such as Tracy Morgan and Mr. Thompson.
The remembrance even gave light to the usually sardonic Mr. Chappelle, who glowingly spoke about his hero and his star turn in “The Nutty Professor,” where Mr. Murphy famously played Sherman Klump as well as all of the members of the Klump family.
While early reviews of “Being Eddie” praised the recollection of Mr. Murphy’s career, they also were critical of how the Netflix special was “manicured” and left out some of the controversy in his past. It’s understandable that folks would want a more definitive outline of Mr. Murphy’s life and legacy, but that’s not the intention here.
“Sensitivity is the gauge, not just how much talent you have,” the comedian offers in the film. “The most sensitive one will be the artist that’s most in tune.”
Maybe that’s why the DJ Khaled and Migos song lands for me: Because it’s a reminder of the good times, before your loved ones become tributes. Quavo misses Takeoff. I miss my brother. Mr. Murphy misses his older brother, the late Charlie Murphy, whose “True Hollywood Stories” were a staple of “Chappelle’s Show.”
Above all else, this movie is a tribute, and not just to Mr. Murphy’s individual brilliance. It is a tribute to his parents, including his pugilist stepfather, whom he said changed his life. It’s a tribute to comedians all over the spectrum, from influences like Redd Foxx to modern-day mimickers such as Pete Davidson. And ultimately, it’s a tribute to family, from his children to “characters” our hero befriended along the way, such as singer Val Young.
Perhaps this documentary will be a springboard to Mr. Murphy revisiting his stand-up career and iconic highlights such as “Delirious” and “Raw.” Maybe it’s not, and that’s fine too. It stands alone as an example on what to do with one’s energy. Protecting it is essential, but there is great power in sharing it with the world. And Mr. Murphy, with his reputation of being a jack of all trades, has mastered this idea as well.
“Being Eddie” is rated R for language throughout, sexual references, and brief nudity.
