"A Thousand Words" (starring Eddie Murphy)...0% approval on RT?

So, this movie has been savaged by the critics. Damn. I actually went to see it today, and while I must admit that it's no masterpiece (and, indeed, there are plenty of plot holes), I certainly enjoyed it and don't understand the vitriol it's gotten. If nothing else, it's inoffensive and has some pretty funny moments.

I haven't seen this movie myself, but I think that Eddie Murphy is just fast becoming the kiss of death for a movie. I don't know about anyone else but for me the words "starring Eddie Murphy" is a pretty off-putting thing.

To be honest, I'm not that surprised, considering this movie was directed by the same guy who made Norbit and Meet Dave. (Both savaged by critics...even though I liked Norbit).

In my honest opinion, though, it doesn't look THAT bad. It doesn't look like masterpiece, but not as horrible as the critics are turning it out to be.

edited 10th Mar '12 8:36:22 AM by Masterofchaos

That's what I'm hoping. Tower Heist looked good, though...

Oh, Tower Heist was a riot. (Certainly better than this, but, again, I don't think this was really too bad of a movie.)

I'm so old, I once saw Eddie Murphy actually being funny.

I liked Beverly Hills Cop. And Coming To America. That being said, I don't think I've enjoyed any of Eddie Murphy's newer stuff as much as I enjoyed those. Nostalgia Filter perhaps.

I think it's (partially) because Eddie Murphy always plays Eddie Murphy. Or at best one or two variations of Eddie Murphy. He'll talk really quick, make loud noises and screw his face up a bit. You can't transplant the same stuff from movie to movie and expect it to work, either because it doesn't fit or you run out of ideas and it gets stale and boring. Or, as in the case of Norbit, outright unpleasant. Even Shrek ended up getting on everyone's nerves when they began milking it dry.

Like I said, I don't see the words "starring Eddie Murphy" and think that he's a good actor who always tries to give you something new. It's like if Jim Carrey never wised up and just kept trying to be The Mask for twenty more years. Maybe that's just me, though.

edited 11th Mar '12 3:21:39 AM by TheBatPencil

Agreed. Bowfinger was a great film of Murphy's, and I genuinely liked Holy Man (the ever awesome Jeff Goldblum being the co-protagonist probably helped that), but I can't think of anything remotely good that he's done since. EDIT: Okay, the first two Shrek films, though I don't think of them as Murphy films as such.

edited 11th Mar '12 6:16:42 AM by CaissasDeathAngel

Murphy won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Dreamgirls. Unfortunately, he hasn't done more to be like Jim Carrey or contract Tom Hanks Syndrome, making this an exception to what has otherwise been a truly disappointing twenty years or so (except for Bowfinger and Shrek movies, although I hate the Shrek movies).

edited 11th Mar '12 9:02:56 AM by SeanMurrayI

Eddie Murphy is a prime example of how Hollywood flanderizes certain actors and actresses. Beverly Hills Cop was great because Murphy's antics had a lot of wit behind them (like his old stand-up), while his most recent stuff is just... bankable goofiness.

Granted, I like goofiness. But not goofy in the way Norbit is. However, I haven' seen this movie yet, so I can't really say anything about it in particular.

Also, I liked Daddy Day Care. Just sayin'.

Oh yeah, I forgot he was in Daddy Day Care. I loved that movie when it came out, but now I only remember that part with his friend singing "Hava Nagila" with the kids.

What Eddie Murphy has to do to revitalize himself should be doing stand-up comedy again. I don't think he's done any stand-up since 1987's "Raw". Granted, a lot of stuff in "Delirious" and "Raw" doesn't fly today, but I believe by going back to his roots, he can save himself and his career.

Look at Robin Williams. His most recent films are all crappy, but his stand-up material is as hilarious as ever. 2009's "Weapons of Self-Destruction" and 2002's "Live on Broadway" are among my favorite stand-up comedy specials/albums.

Eddie Murphy is funny when you can't see him. He was brilliant in the Shrek films.

Haunted Mansion killed off any interest I had in seeing Eddie Murphy in a film again.

It should be noted that a 0 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes just means that none of the critics liked it.

It doesn't mean that they vehemently hated it. It's like how the new Star Trek movie got over a 90%, even though the general critical reaction was generally "Above average".

edited 8th May '12 6:31:49 AM by Scardoll

The director of has this was a producer on Fred the movie. /

great resume

Still, zero critics liking your movie is scarcely something to be proud of.

If talking is supposed to be Eddie Murphy's strong point... then A Thousand Words is a really bad idea for him to be in, considering that most of his jokes will have to stay shut or be said through somebody less talented. Also, I hear the movie's been in Development Hell for a while, so some of the jokes may seem pretty outdated.

See? this is what I've been telling people for days now. Eddie Murphy is just fat sack of suck in films nowdays. In Shrek, Eddie is the man but geez just lay off the fail Ed. Hell, I gave up on Eddie Murphy when he decided to throw away his opportunity at getting an oscar for his role in Dream Girls for that horrendous flick Norbit.

I doubt anyone actually argues with you. This has been the consensus on the man for almost a decade now.

Good Actor who picks Crap Movies. That about sums it up.

The sad thing about actors who specifialize as comedians is that eventually, people get tired of your schitck. Now's the time that Eddie should consider pulling a Tom Hanks.

Except his choices make Nic Cage look like Daniel Day Lewis.

Am I the only one who didn't hate The Haunted Mansion?

As for Nic Cage,what's next Christopher Walken is a good actor in bad movies? Still baffling how the third facet of Rule Of Sean Connery is named for Cage when he so obviously fits the first one. The only reason to even watch the 2006 Wicker Man is so you can see him overreact.

The last time I can honestly say Murphy was good,was 2003 with Daddy Day Care and The Haunted Mansion. After that with the exception of Dreamgirls,he hasn't done anything good

Before that he was pretty good,I mean other than Pluto Nash. Dr. Doolittle,good, the original and only good Shrek,superlative,Mulan,..check,the stuff in the '80's,...golden.

You'd think The Haunted Mansion was like some kind of Batman And Robin or something by the falling quality,and no he doesn't have the Connery/Walken/Cage/Neeson quality going

edited 10th May '12 4:33:52 PM by terlwyth