Dolemite Is My Name

A long-awaited and welcome return to form for Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes, Dolemite Is My Name is also a pleasant “welcome back” for director Craig Brewer.

After establishing himself as distinct cinematic voice in the mid-2000s with the raw combination of Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, Brewer disappeared following 2011’s Footloose remake to the land of made-for-TV movies and episodes of Empire, but is once more in his element chronicling the fate of another hard-luck yet resilient musical black man.

Written by the outstanding team of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (Ed Wood; Man on the Moon), themselves solidifying their status as the go-to duo for quirky biopics, the tale of Rudy Ray Moore is an ideal comeback vehicle for Murphy. Portraying a do-it-all entertainer determined to catch a break by any means necessary, the comedy legend dips into his own struggles over the past few decades to give a commanding performance that’s fiery and hilarious yet tinged in just the right amount of melancholy.

As Rudy forms his joyously foul-mouthed Dolemite alter ego and dreams of expanding from the tiring hustle of the road to the efficiency of bringing his skillset to movie theaters, it’s clear what motivates our hero, but his personal life largely remains a mystery, especially in terms of his sexuality. Several times, it appears he might kiss a woman, but never does and barely seems to think about people in that way — no huge deal, but an omission that nevertheless leaves a gap in his otherwise well-rounded personality.

In the process of Rudy’s risky gambit, Dolemite Is My Name goes from a fun and funny look at entrepreneurialism to an outright great movie about moviemaking. Aiding the cause is a terrific ensemble dedicated to getting his Dolemite film made — including Craig Robinson, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Keegan-Michael Key — and at least one who’s not in “respected” actor-turned-director D'Urville Martin (Rosemary’s Baby), played with cheeky pretentiousness by Snipes.

Regardless of their allegiance to Rudy, all bring out the best in Murphy and make Dolemite Is My Name one of the year’s most entertaining films and also one of its finest overall.

Grade: A-minus. Rated R. Starts Oct. 25 at Grail Moviehouse

(Photo: Netflix)