Opening

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—— Alyce Kills May 24

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—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
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Holy Man

Holy Man (1998)

tomatometer

14

Average Rating: 3.9/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 12

No consensus yet.

audience

29

liked it
Average Rating: 2.4/5
User Ratings: 39,697

My Rating

Movie Info

Stephen Herek directed this comedy-drama in which soul-less exec Ricky Hayman (Jeff Goldblum), programmer for the failing Good Buy Shopping Network, is dismayed by a request to increase sales in two weeks. Bald do-gooder guru G. (Eddie Murphy) assists when Ricky and marketing director Kate (Kelly Preston) get a freeway flat. When G. passes out, tests indicate a heart murmur and heat prostration, so the robed prophet becomes Ricky's house guest. At a party, G. uses hypnosis and psychology to rid

PG,

Comedy

Tom Schulman

May 18, 1999

Disney

Watch It Now

Cast

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All Critics (51) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (44) | DVD (6)

It may not be earthshaking, but this calmly competent feel-good movie shows that a little sincerity can go a long way.

July 21, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The material lacks a biting edge.

July 1, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The kitsch on-air shopping sequences are often very funny.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This screenplay was in no shape to be filmed; perhaps the filmmakers assumed that the mere presence of Eddie Murphy would repair its wrongs and give them a big opening weekend.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film never really explains where G came from or where he's going.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

While Murphy probably has what it takes to make the comedian-to-serious actor transition, he needs to do what Martin, Williams, and Carrey did: hold out for a good script.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Leaves you wondering whether there really is a God.

July 21, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

Good intentions abound, but we all know where they lead.

July 21, 2009 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A thought-provoking but uneven comedy.

May 16, 2009 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

What does Hollywood teach us here? Materialism BAD! Television BAD! Media BAD!

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

The shallowness and lack of perspective of the story keeps everyone from delivering anything more than a mundane, mildly amusing comedy.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews
Reeling Reviews

It's always watchable, sometimes enjoyable, never special.

May 22, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Blather
Film Blather

[Murphy] is the only thing that isn't deadeningly predictable here, but it might still be worth the price of a ticket to see him continue to have such fun being a movie star.

May 20, 2003
Palo Alto Weekly

Eddie Murphy's downhill decline

February 19, 2003
Henderson Home News (Henderson, NV)

Eddie Murphy still can't pick scripts worth a damn. It's not the worst movie he ever made, but that comes as small comfort when you're suffering through it.

November 1, 2002
Flipside Movie Emporium

Oh brother, what a preposterous package it uses to deliver its warm and fuzzy message about What Really Matters.

October 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Enquirer

A clever script and great comic timing from the entire cast take the infomercial parody to a whole new hilarious level.

June 5, 2002 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine
Boxoffice Magazine

Holy Man saddles its star with a leaden, melodramatic script that never allows the high jinks to get rolling at Murphy's hyperkinetic pace.

March 24, 2002 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix
Boston Phoenix

Audience Reviews for Holy Man

Holy Man is one of the worst films that Eddie Murphy has done. This is the type of film that is void of effective humor and has a bad script to rely on. This is one of many bad films that Eddie Murphy has starred in, and it is a painful laugh free comedy that really doesn't have anything interesting going for it. The film is poorly directed, and has stale jokes that just aren't funny. The film never succeeds at being funny, and the only thing that it succeeds is being a bad film. Holy Man just doesn't have that special ingredient which made Eddie Murphy such a funny guy in previous films. Luckily he would redeem himself with Bowfinger, but that would be short lived because he would continue making bad, laugh free and uninspired garbage. Holy Man just relies on a poorly written script and the story could have used a lot more development. Stephen Herek fails to direct something consistent here and he ultimately doesn't have what it takes to create a good comedy. Holy Man simply doesn't deliver anything good; it's an underdeveloped film, one that was destined to fail right from the start. If you're expecting a good film with this one, you'll be sadly disappointed. This is one of many bad films starring Eddie Murphy, and he really doesn't make you laugh in this one. Simply a bad film that could have been much better than what it turned out to be. I thought that this film was quite awful and is one of those films that aren't memorable whatsoever. Avoid this one; it definitely isn't worth your time.
July 2, 2012
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

One of Eddie Murphy's better ones. (I know that is not saying a whole lot). It's not overly funny, but it does have quite a nice message to it. Sweet.
January 19, 2008
romy861

Super Reviewer

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Latest News on Holy Man

May 19, 2005:
Universal Gets Into a "Worst Case" Scenario
Veteran screenwriters Tom Schulman and Rafael Yglesias have sold their first collaborative effort,...

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