ROTTEN TOMATOES: Total Recall: Eddie Murphy's Best Movies

Total Recall: Eddie Murphy's Best Movies

by Jeff Giles

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83%

5. Beverly Hills Cop

It kicked off a $735 million film franchise, made Harold Faltermeyer a synth god, and taught aspiring police officers the importance of not falling for a banana in the tailpipe -- but in 1984, all that mattered to Eddie Murphy was that Beverly Hills Cop helped erase memories of Best Defense, the roundly panned alleged comedy he'd made with Dudley Moore earlier in the year. Though its legacy would eventually be tainted by a pair of progressively more inessential sequels, Cop arguably represents the acme of the '80s action comedy, offering thrills, laughs, a familiar character actor in the villain's role, and a small army of synthesizers on the score -- not bad for a script that Mickey Rourke and Sylvester Stallone both passed on (the latter reportedly took his vision for Cop and used it as the basis for Cobra). Of course, it's impossible now to imagine anyone but Murphy as the wisecracking Axel Foley; the funny script, and Martin Brest's ad-lib-friendly direction, were a perfect fit for what Time's Richard Schickel called "the kind of cheeky, cocky charm that has been missing from the screen since Cagney was a pup, snarling his way out of the ghetto."

89%

4. Shrek 2

After Shrek barrelled through theaters in 2001, it was pretty much a given that DreamWorks Animation would produce a sequel -- and given that Eddie Murphy had already made Beverly Hills Cop III, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and Dr. Dolittle 2, it seemed a pretty safe bet that if the script was written in anything resembling English, he'd be back for another round as Donkey. Murphy didn't disappoint -- and neither did Shrek 2, racking up an admirable 89 percent on the Tomatometer to match its predecessor's, thanks to a script loaded with laughs, an expanded voice cast that included Antonio Banderas, John Cleese, and Julie Andrews, and typically gorgeous CG animation. Murphy's character even got a family of his own (and introduced audiences to something called a "dronkey" in the process). Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman echoed the sentiments of many of his peers when he wrote, "it's not quite as emotionally rounded as Shrek was, but it's got heart and delirium in equal doses, as well as a firecracker rhythm all its own."

89%

3. Shrek

He made his animated debut as the voice of Mushu the dragon in 1998's Mulan, but Eddie Murphy really hit the cartoon jackpot with 2001's Shrek, a DreamWorks Animation adaptation of the bestselling William Steig children's book about the adventures of a big green ogre (voiced here by Mike Myers). Providing the voice of Shrek's chatterbox companion Donkey, Murphy invited plenty of backhanded compliments (Time's Richard Shickel wrote that "no one has ever made a funnier jackass of himself than Eddie Murphy") -- and pretty much ran away with the movie in the process, channeling a G-rated version of the boundless charisma and comic energy that audiences had been missing for far too long. And for viewers who had found Murphy's earlier, edgier humor a little difficult to take, Shrek was a long-overdue change; for USA Today's Susan Wloszczyna, for example, one of the best parts of the movie was "an exuberant Eddie Murphy [giving] the comic performance of his career."

91%

2. Trading Places

For his cinematic debut, 1982's 48 Hrs., Murphy took advantage of having Nick Nolte as a straight man; for his second effort, 1983's Trading Places, he went mano a mano with fellow funnyman (and SNL vet) Dan Aykroyd. Of course, Aykroyd ended up leaving most of the laughs to Murphy -- it's possible that even Don Ameche had more funny lines -- but Places still proved that Murphy could hold his own against one of Hollywood's most popular comedians. Unlike most early Murphy vehicles, it also surrounded him with a ton of A-list talent, including Aykroyd, Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, and Jamie Lee Curtis, which -- along with Timothy Harris and Hershel Weingrod's rather pointed script -- enabled director John Landis to create an uncommonly sturdy framework around Murphy's rapid-fire riffing. The result was a film that entertains whether you're watching it for some light commentary on the "nature vs. nurture" debate or simply to see Murphy pretend to be a blind, legless veteran. As Film Threat's Brad Laidman noted, "because Eddie doesn't have to carry the whole movie, he is free to make every word that comes out of his mouth infinitely appealing."

94%

1. 48 Hrs.

The movie that launched Eddie Murphy's film career, the box office reign of producer Joel Silver, and arguably the entire "buddy cop" genre, Walter Hill's 48 Hrs. overcame a stint in turnaround and countless rewrites to become one of 1982's biggest hits and -- surprise! -- Murphy's best-reviewed film (so far, anyway). And why not? A number of Murphy's most memorable silver screen bits are here, including his impassioned rendition of the Police's "Roxanne" and the classic scene where he stuns a bar full of rhinestone cowboys into submission; in fact, you could argue that the template for his entire early film career -- and the "classic" Murphy whose disappearance we bemoan so frequently -- was molded from the impression left by the wisecracking Reggie Hammond. It's temping to wonder what might have been if 48 Hrs. had been made as the Clint Eastwood/Richard Pryor vehicle it started out as, but as Roger Ebert noted, this is a film that transcends its rather limited origins because of its stars: "The movie's story is nothing to write home about. It's pretty routine. What makes the movie special is how it's made. Nolte and Murphy are good, and their dialogue is good, too -- quirky and funny."

Take a look through Murphy's complete filmography, as well as the rest of our Total Recall archives. And don't forget to check out the reviews for Imagine That.

Finally, here's a classic SNL skit in which Murphy (as Clarence Walker) offers convincing proof that he was the fifth Beatle:

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(1-20 of 50 posts) | Reply

arendr writes:
on Jun 11 2009 09:11 AM

Hey Jeff, the Bowfinger video was removed.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jun 11 2009 09:30 AM

A lot of these I don't like, but he's a funny guy, who dosen't know a good script.

(Reply to this)

Gerant K. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 10:09 AM

I've got to say, Bowfinger is by far the sharpest and wittiest film in both Steve Martin's and Eddie Murphy's career. That movie rocks my Mindhead.

(Reply to this)

Bob S. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 11:02 AM

I think the most surprising thing about this list for me is that the lowest rated film on it is still fresh. I didn't realize Murphy had made 10 fresh movies, but it's good to know.

I definitely think BOWFINGER had its moments. Has some nice satirical jabs at the business of Hollywood and its seedy underbelly.

(Reply to this)

mightysourdough writes:
on Jun 11 2009 11:16 AM

If Eddie kept making the adult R rated comedy/action/drama pictures I think this list would be a lot diffrent. His diologe in the SHREK movies is funny, but I feel like he has shackles on when he appears in the family movie. He seems to resort to yelling and wild makeup to get a laugh which is hit or miss. I would like to see more of Eddie being Eddie.

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Jun 11 2009 12:07 PM

In reply to this comment (#2512459)
Bob I remember the first time I saw Delirious and almost literally pee'd myself laughing. Eddie was once the greatest comedien of our generation before he went all family friendly. I understand why he did it, but still it was like all the great jazz musicians after they quit drugs. What really surprises me is that this is one of the few lists based on tomatometer that doesn't skew to a family demographic. Trading Places is probably my favorite Murphy film. What happened to you Dan Ackroyd? You used to be cool.

(Reply to this)

prncs_btrcp writes:
on Jun 11 2009 02:02 PM

I am somewhat confused by the omission of "Mulan" from this list. According to your site it is rated at 87% fresh, putting it slightly behind Shrek 2. All opinions of that film aside (I personally think it was far more entertaining than most of the late 90s Disney duds like Hercules and Hunchback of Notre Dame) if we are going on strict numbers here, that film should be included. His role as sidekick was no smaller than that of the donkey in Shrek so that can't really be a consideration.

(Reply to this)

Andrew H. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 02:45 PM

I can't speak for RT, but my guess is that Mulan was omitted because it didn't receive enough reviews. In order to count for these lists, the movies have to reach a minimum number of reviews.

(Reply to this)

Bob S. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 02:49 PM

In reply to this comment (#2512476)
@bigbrother:
Actually, I don't think I've seen DELIRIOUS. Thanks for the heads up - I'll definitely check it out.

With regards to Murphy, I definitely think he's a talented comedian. I loved his edgier material, with which I think he could have parlayed into a highly successful as well.

And I, too, miss Dan Ackroyd. I'm hoping that the rumors of GHOSTBUSTERS 3 are true and that we'll get to see him on the big screen again in the near future.

(Reply to this)

sha j. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 02:53 PM

this list is an atrocity. how can u have coming to america at number 10 which could have been easily top 3. i can watch that movie over and over. boomerang should have definetely been on the list. shrek doesnt count as an eddie film. sorry. where the hell is beverly hills cop 2 the highest grossing r rated film at one point. and im sorry but bowfinger wasnt that great. i wouldve replaced it with harlem nights. a classic movie

(Reply to this)

DivineCC writes:
on Jun 11 2009 03:16 PM

In reply to this comment (#2512504)
Sha j.,
The list is organized by their tomato meters, nothing else. So while you think Coming To America is top 3, its tomato rating doesn't reflect that. This argument shows up every time RT does one of these and it still amazes me that posters don't understand how they're done.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Jun 11 2009 03:40 PM

Thanks for explaining, divinecc! You're absolutely right. Good job reading the fine print. :)

(Reply to this)

sugreev2001 writes:
on Jun 11 2009 03:53 PM

I think 48 hrs is the most overrated of all Eddie Murphy's 80's films.I think Coming To America,Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places as shining examples of fantastic 80's comedies.

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jun 11 2009 05:27 PM

What, no Pluto Nash on there? /sarcasm off

(Reply to this)

Pegritz writes:
on Jun 11 2009 06:18 PM

I'm not a big fan of "family comedies," but funny is just *funny*. I laughed myself silly at the Night in the Museum movies, and even though they aren't 1/16th as funny as his "adult" material--especially Delerious, which literally made me piss *and* **** my pants the first time I saw it (in my defense, I *was* 13 at the time)--I've still found Murphy's PG humor to be hysterical. The man's got impeccable comic timing and has the most expressive, likeable face I've ever seen on a comedian. He's just, like...the man. And even though some of his films *do* suck horrendously, none of them have been bad enough to really wreck his career. And, damn, if you can weather a Pluto Nash and still go on to be the donkey from Shrek, you gotta have *some* kind of skillz!

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jun 11 2009 06:48 PM

The amazing thing is that Pluto Nash isn't at the 0 percentage on RT, it's at 6%. I kept trying to watch it, as i love good AWFUL films, but couldn't take it. One of the few films I could never finish.

(Reply to this)

Keith J. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 07:23 PM

I think Bowfinger was the last time I actually had tears of laughter rolling down my face at the cinema (and I go a lot) it was that scene shown in the trailer above. I love Hong Kong movies and it just hit my funny bone. Also the whole concept of a paranoid guy having complete strangers approaching him and spouting things like "You only care about alien love!" just got to me too.

(Reply to this)

Andrea G. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 07:24 PM

I thought SHOWTIME was awesome. Can't believe two shreks got in there. Cmonnnnn

(Reply to this)

Andrea G. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 07:27 PM

I thought SHOWTIME was awesome. Can't believe two shreks got in there. Cmonnnnn

(Reply to this)

Vincent Rolandelli writes:
on Jun 11 2009 08:09 PM

Love 48 hours but Beverley hills cop is definitely his best movie!

(Reply to this)

5. Beverly Hills Cop

4. Shrek 2

3. Shrek

2. Trading Places

1. 48 Hrs.

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