A long, long time ago, before Dr. Dolittle and The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Eddie Murphy was beloved for his risky, "street-smart, fast-talking comedy" in films like Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and 48 Hrs. (1982). In recent years, however, Murphy has been better known for voicing Shrek's donkey and inflicting Norbit on the world (the latter supposedly cost him an Oscar for Dreamgirls). But now, Murphy's star is once again on the rise. He's hosting the Oscars next year, and this weekend he stars in the comedic caper Tower Heist, in which he and a ragtag band of would-be criminals plan to rob the high-rise residence of an unscrupulous Ponzi schemer. Is Murphy really mounting a comeback?
Quite possibly: "It's hard to remember that Eddie Murphy was once a dangerous talent — flashy, charismatic, hyperverbal, and surprisingly volatile," says Scott Tobias at NPR. Thankfully, Tower Heist "resurrects" the Murphy of 48 Hrs. — an actor who delivered a "breakthrough performance as a small-time hustler." Sure, when Murphy isn't onscreen, Tower Heist is a lame "Ocean's Eleven clone." But it's "a pleasure to see the Eddie Murphy of Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop again."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
