MovieChat Forums > Daddy Day Care (2003) Discussion > whats happening with eddie Murphy???

whats happening with eddie Murphy???


What the hell is going on with Eddie Murphy. He hasn't had a good movie since the original Nutty Professor. Life, with Martin Lawrence was also pretty good, but a couple of bad sequals recently and then Showtime, and I Spy, and then the degrating Pluto Nash, and now to kid movies, the Haunted Mansion and Daddy Day Care. Shrek was also excellence, but he just lend his voice.Why can't he have good movies like Coming To America and stuff.I think hes losing his respect as a good actor.What do you guys think?

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The most recent movie I liked Murphy in was "Shrek" even if it was just his voice. Before that was.......hmm.........
I'll have to get back to you on that.

Maybe he's changed after having family.

Peace and blessings

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I can't disagree more. Eddie Murphey is not bad, the movies are just not as good as your younger memories (Just like the Star Wars syndrome, all the old fogies have lost that childhood excitement for the films, now they don't have it and they thing the new ones are no good.. but they are still just as good).
His acting style is the same if not better than it has been in Beverly HIlls COP, Trading Places, Coming to America, etc. etc.. You can't lose your acting skill if you stay with it you can only get better. The movies just keep getting less exciting because the movie ideas are getting thin since everything has been thought about and done. It has to be tough to be an actor, director, writer, etc. etc. since almost everything has been done.
Showtime was great.. perfect Combo of Murphey and Deniro
BOWFINGER was awesome (especially for those of us in the production industry)
I SPY was also good. Wilson's and Murpheys chemistry was great. Especially the scene in the sewer when Eddie Murphey was letting it all out.
Daddy Day Care trailer looks AWESOME, especially his expression when he looks in the bathroom and then up at the ceiling. Murphey has a habbit of being in movies with odd match ups though, have you ever noticed that? Odd match ups meaning his co-stars. I think that is cool. I hope he is in a film with Eddie Jim Carrey some day.
Eddie Murphey is awesome, he never lost anything, he got better.

Adam C.
Lewisville, Texas
[email protected]

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I get this movie, the kid peeing all over the bathroom. but something is about the kid in the superhero costumes. it resembles Radioactive Man from The Simpsons, but why does he wear it?

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Actually, it says 'and watch out, for NUMBER TWO' I'm guessing he flung his waste everywhere. plus, its the flash, not radioactive man!

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just to put my know how in... or my know

da child was the flash for halloween and hasn't taken his costume off since. it's been, like, three months or something. so he smells... a child... that smells. pure gold. and eddie's just trying to reach out to the little children with his recent movies. or shrek made him think, 'the kids like me, let's like them.' but i've been told i talk too much, so come up with your very own theory.

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According to Adam, "Daddy Day Care trailer looks AWESOME."

Ookaayy, that's scary. Wait a minute, you must be Eddie's agent right? I don't know about you guys, but I don't see any "awesomeness" whatsoever in Daddy Day Care. All I see are a bunch of kids going nuts whom probably took only one take to shoot. Personally I think Eddie is half to blame. I mean come on Pluto Nash? Did he say to himself, yes, this sounds like a blockbuster hit! Relate him to Travolta since Travolta also made a bunch of crappy movies right after Pulp Fiction.

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what do you mean "original" nutty professor?! the original was with Jerry Lewis!

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The trailer for this movie is horribly made, and this movie looks really stupid. Eddie Murphy is not a bad actor necessairly, he has just not been in a good movie in a while to show off his acting ability.



"A 1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I've always wanted and now I have it. I rule!" - American Beauty

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Exactly. Don't blame him. Blame the scriptwriters.

This is what happens when you let the director write the jokes instead of the comedian starring in it. You get results like Pluto Nash.

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Hey, im gonna blame him. He chooses what movies he acts in, and he has been in some bad ones, therefore, it was his own bad decisions that he was in a bad movie. Im blaming him for the movie being bad, but I am blaming him for taking part in a bad movie.

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In that case, I guess you're right. I just wish Murphy would just stop these stupid movies. You know, maybe HE should write the jokes for once. Guaranteed, it would be much funnier. Bring back the joy Beverly Hills Cop brought us!

Mono sound forever!

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He DID write Coming To America, but I can't think of any more movies than that one.

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That still doesn't really work. First of all, in the beginning form, there is very little way to tell what the final result will be. This is why we have flops. All three of Eddie's huge recent flops had potential and probably looked good on paper. Eddie wasn't the only guy signing on to these projects, film companies supported them too. Good example being Adventures of Pluto Nash. The good ol' producers and production companies and the like won't just lay down a 100 million budget for anything, unless they think it's worth it. They all obviously thought it was going to be a successful movie at the way beginning. Then by the end it was too late, which is why the movie suffered extreme delays and a total lack of promotion. The same deal with Showtime, which had an 85 million dollar budget. or even I spy, which had a 70 million dollar budget. The second two films really weren't that bad, and Pluto Nash just didn't really get a chance. I think people are more inclined to dislike what they know didn't do well, and these movies just didn't seem to hit the spot.

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[deleted]

I totally agree the trailer was horrible.


*SMOOCHES*

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[deleted]

He's finally makeing RESPECTABLE movies without all the filthly language.
He has finally gained pride and respect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These aren't "kid movies" They are clean entertainment. Since our family refuses to go to movies that are rated anything higher than PG it's about time we can enjoy some "REAL" acting from Mr. Murphy!!!!!

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What, are you some sort of prude? "REAL" acting from Mr. Murphy?!

He hasn't just softened his image. He's become less funny. Take my advice and skip this. See "Shrek" if you're looking for a PG movie starring Eddie Murphy so bad. I guarantee that will be 20 times better than this.

Mono sound forever!

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The best films ever made have filthy language in them, are they bad? Are they not real?

I've got a foot on the end of my arm

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I just have to say, that this movie is best viewed by people who work in the childcare profession. I love the fact that the state inspector comes almost every day. That's exactly how it feels at the daycare I work at. But even though most of the population doesn't work at a daycare, I still recommend it, but it's better for pre-school teachers.

"It's a work in progress, but, hey, we need ushers!" ~Monster's Inc.

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Ever since 'a vampire in brooklyn', Murphy's talent has diminished significantly. Its not that we have fond, blind memories from our childhood of his films, its that he's losing his comedic balls, so to speak. He's settled into a happy, comfortable rut, and with films like daddy *beep* day care, i can't see him leaving it any time soon.

By the way, i love it how certain people blindly support ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING an actor does, just because of who they are. I have a friend who obsesses over sandra bullock, and proclaims that she has never made a bad film. Ahem?

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I too usually pass up Eddie Murphy's movies on the shelves at Blockbuster because of the language and other objectionable material (Maybe others like that stuff - it's their right - I don't like it and that's my right too.) But I was able to bring this movie home and we all had a good time watching it. Of course crotchkicking is just not funny (was it ever?), but there were a lot of other scenes that actually were funny. Being a star trek viewer too, I found a lot of humor in that aspect of the film too. It's a good family movie which will never win Eddie any awards but I doubt that's what it set out to do.

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I'll take "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Eddie Murphy RAW" over "the nutty professor" any day of the week, get off you high horse and loosen up a little, what are you, 96 years old or something?

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[deleted]

[deleted]

Eddie got old, fat and slow.

then followed boring...

it all started with beverley Hills cop II and its been down-hill ever since.

Mumbo

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I for one think that Eddie needs to have more fans than critics. Here is a man who was one of the first to reach the billion and two billion dollar mark on worldwide releases. This is the man that many of us had to sneak to watch because our parents thought he was to vulgar (they were right, now we are just as vulgar). This is the man that introduced us to some of the biggest black comediens today. But he suffers from SNL syndrome. Chevy Chase and Dan Akroyd nver let there shtick grow to different kinds of comedy. Same for Dana Carvey, John Lovitz, Kevin Neland, and Jan Hooks. But Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, and Adam Sandler all have amazing careers, using the same shtick as before, its just that we love to see them do the same things. Eddie, Mike and Adam do add new twist every time. David Spade, Garret Morris, and Rob Schnieder don't. How Eddie wins is cable and broadcast veiwing of his films. Sometimes what is wrong is that a movie is better fitted for Pan and Scan than widescreen. Take any Eddie Murphy movie that has been released since the coming of Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, or Mike Myers. Its the same thing that Eddie and Bill Murray (who is becoming a chameleon) and Steve Martin did to Richard Pryor and the comedy greats of the seventies... they raised the bar on comedy. It will take Eddie evolving into a pseudo dramatic actor (Robin Williams, Robert Downey, Jr) and move past his comedy back groud and play a retarded slave, or become the new Carey Grant the romantic comedy man.

I think that many of Eddie's 90's films were quite funny, just as Arnold's action stock faded in the hyperspeed neo kungfu/gunfight flicks, we still stop to watch one if its on HBO.

Think about this, Eddie released Nutty Professor the same year Jim released Cable Guy. The next year Eddie had Metro, Jim had Liar, Liar. 1998: Eddie had Dr. Dolittle and Holy Man, Jim had the Truman Show. In 1999 we had Life and Bowfinger from Eddie, Jim was The Man on the Moon. Next Eddie brought us the Klumps, while Jim had Me myself & Irene and the Grinch. In just those years there was an up and down for both, box office wise, but for me a lover of comedies this was a great output. Jim only released one more movie after that. Until Bruce that is, Eddie released five, not countiing Daddy Daycare. This is just from the two that are the best in the business.

I have to close thing at some point... i guess what i am trying to say is, stop griping about Eddie's box office or lack of profanities, instead watch a holy man or Bowfinger on a night when you are feeling down, i promise you will have sore cheeks from all the grinning, its a far cry from all the gut laughs we remember, but funny is still funny.

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I can't believe I'm getting into this, since originally I was just mortified at the unbelievably unfair characterization of Dan Aykroyd, but that's for another time, now as to Mr. Murphy....

I appreciate those people who commend him for making movies more suitable for a broader audience, but as was pointed out, movies with vulgarity and violence have been some of the best movies ever made (wander over to the discussion boards for The Godfather parts I and II for related threads), and if one wants to compare the lasting impact of a movie, something like BHC or Raw is going to blow Daddy Day Care away. I'm sorry your kids can't see the former yet. When they are old enough to, they will agree with me.

Now regarding the "slippage" of his career, I ask you to consider the following timeframes:

1982-1996 (His Golden Age for us non-family film oriented types): 48 Hours, Trading Places, Delirious (Norton, my friend...), BHC, The Golden Child, Raw, BHC II, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, Another 48 Hours, Boomerang, BHC III, The Distinguished Gentlemen, Vampire in Brooklyn, and The Nutty Professor ---- Saw them all, liked them all except The Golden Child (which I allow might be more my fault than the movie's fault) and BHC III (went to the franchise well once too often). But Eddie did great characters, did some romantic comedy, some comedy with a moral message too (The Distinguished Gentleman was quite good, I thought), and the films by and large were enjoyable.

post-1996: Metro, Mulan, Doctor Dolittle, Holy Man, Life, Bowfinger, Nutty Professor II, Shrek, Dr. Dolittle II, Showtime, Pulto Nash, I Spy, Daddy Day Care --- Still some good movies here (Doctor Dolittle and Life were my favorites, and Bowfinger and Showtime also have many fans), but for people who have been watching everything he did for 15 years, there was enough un-evenness to stop catching every movie. Perhaps because his career has created such high expectations, especially among those aged 25-40, that is why there are questions about his career. I want to stress that I am not at all questioning his acting ability or comic talent. I don't want to think that will ever cool off, and his gift to make people laugh is hotter than Hades. Perhaps his judgment needs to improve as to what movies are better suited to his abilities.

Anyway, just another idea or two floating around in cyberspace. Enjoy reading this tripe as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

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Eddie Murphy has grown up. That's what's happened. Obviously he wants his kids to be able to see some of his movies. I thought "Daddy Day Care" was hilarious. If you spend any time around pre-schoolers, you can appreciate it. I've seen some reviews where the critics get it and really enjoyed it, but the negative reviews are the ones that get the publicity. I thought "Showtime" was fairly amuzing, and "I Spy" was okay, but "Daddy Day Care" is my favorite Eddie Murphy movie of the last couple of years. Very real. Very funny.

. . .it seems like an aweful waste of space.

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HE DOES THESE MOVIES FOR MONEY, DOY!

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Look people, it's really quite a good movie. It's aimed towards familys, not pre-school teachers, as one of ya'll mentioned. You shouldn't say the movie is bad until you see it. Trailers can be deceiving.

"Cartoons make my eyes itch!" ~ Dr. Drakken

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I have seen it, "ya'll", and it was flat. Flat and stupid.

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Hey, don't make fun of the way I talk. You'd talk like this too if you were country.

"Cartoons make my eyes itch!" ~ Dr. Drakken

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bigman13, I have to agree with you. Eddie Murphy was great in Shrek, the nutty professor, the Klumps... but his most recent ones have sucked and Daddy Daycare has to be the worst. He used to be sooo funny, and I hope this is just a phase because he used to be great and I wanna see him being his old self again. I have to say that hes doing a terrible job of acting in his new movies and you couldn't have said it better. And its not like he was even trying to make his movies look good either, those comericials for Daddy Daycare made it look so stupid!-(I mean the freaky little burping kid dressed up like some fruity super hero, the fact that eddie murphy was in this with another guy, all the stupidity...it all just looks so bad!) I couldnt believe this was an Eddie Murphy film. Hes starting to lose it I just hope he can bring himself back up.

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Ok, ok, i concede, i'm sorry about that, i was underslept and moody. So i'm sorry.

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As a parent I'm thankful that someone...anyone...is making an effort to entertain my youngsters without the obligatory sex, violence and non-stop bad language. The stuff I enjoyed as a kid surely seemed bad to my parents. I even wonder what the heck I was thinking! ;-)

Today I enjoy the no-brainers and simpletons since that's all I'm allowed to watch for the next 10 years or so. I give Eddie credit for trying a different route and giving options for all age groups. With all of the high-tech effects these days, can you imagine how difficult it would be to make a clean, non-superhuman movie these days?

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