Harlem Nights

Eddie Murphy is undeniably a modern Hollywood case study in artistry. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to recognize his talent.

Starting from the comedy powerhouse, SNL, he quickly rose to the comedy pantheon, earning significant awards along the way. Beyond his Richard Pryor-inspired stand-up, his film career is fascinating, ranging from "so bad it's good" to genuinely good efforts.

With an ongoing dilemma about his magnum opus—whether it’s "Coming to America" or "Beverly Hills Cop"—I want to focus more on "Harlem Nights," the only film he has directed, if I'm not mistaken.

The cast features an all-star lineup, including his co-star Richard Pryor (as Murphy’s dream of working with his idol was the main point of making the film), Redd Foxx, Arsenio Hall, Danny Aiello, and others. The plot is essentially a crime-driven comedy about Harlem's nightlife. Despite this strong foundation in the cast and concept, the script and dialogues are so awkward that it rightfully earns a place among the Best Worst Movies ever released.

Often painful to watch, but with a captivating cast and an intriguingly good soundtrack at times, it remains puzzling why this particular endeavor failed.

It possibly demonstrates the difficulty of approaching comedy, even for professionals, and highlights the contrast between cinematic dialogue and stand-up scriptwriting—a contrast also evident in other great comedians like Chris Rock.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s highly recommended for a watch with your situationship or friends, accompanied by plenty of snacks. A good time is guaranteed.

Don't forget that his new Beverly Hills Cop movie is out on Netflix and you can watch him playing Axel Foley again.

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