“Being Eddie” (2025) Review
Director: Angus Wall Cast: Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Charlie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson Distributor: Netflix Running Time: 103 min. MPAA: R
I’m sure there’s a sobering aspect to how comedy legend Eddie Murphy is portrayed in this documentary, as more casual than complex. Many celebrities consider him the pioneer of comedy, thanks to his acclaimed stand-up specials and big blockbusters. And while Murphy brings the camera crews into his lavish home, he seems more content showing off his old ventriloquist dummies than his pool, car, or home theater setup. There’s a sensation of contentment, both to the benefit and detriment of Being Eddie.
Where the film succeeds is in presenting his legacy without as much ego as others attach to him. You’ll hear from comedy celebs like Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, and Pete Davidson speak of Murphy being a real game-changer. But the way that Eddie himself talks about his experience outlines a life that seems more destined for comedy before he even reached the stage. Rather than look upon himself as some comedy titan, Murphy has enough awareness to take a step back, look at his work, and laugh about how he ever thought Vampire in Brooklyn was a good idea. Still, he got to sink some fangs into Angela Bassett, and that’s not something every actor can boast.
What I found most compelling about Eddie Murphy was the easygoing method he took to his comedy and career. Sure, Saturday Night Live would take jabs at him, and it stung a bit to be roasted by the late-night skit show that made him a household name. When speaking of his life growing up, he tells the tale of the family photo that broke up his parents with a smile, amused at the absurdity that a joyous picture wrecked a marriage. When his brother, Charlie Murphy, was featured on The Dave Chappelle Show telling an amusing true story of meeting Rick James, Eddie merely adds that every night was just like that for him. There’s this comfort where it feels like he isn’t afraid to talk about anything, including his worst movies, as with Meet Dave, where he gives an invaluable piece of acting advice: “Never play a rocketship.”
Some actor biopics will often veer towards a downfall, highlighting a time when the celeb was at their lowest. There doesn’t seem to be a point like that for Eddie Murphy. Even when it seemed like he stepped away from movies, he viewed it more as a break than a retirement. As he describes his return to Saturday Night Live and the film Dolemite Is My Name, he wanted to get off the couch, if only to prove to everyone that he was taking a rest. Given how revered his return was to the big and small screen, he hasn’t lost his comedic chops. He might not have gravitated towards better projects with such duds as You People and The Pickup, but I’m sure it doesn’t matter much to Murphy. He seems chill enough to take risks and work with Davidson, considering how much the comedian gushes about Murphy’s role as the donkey in Shrek being one of his finest performances.
The problem with this documentary is that Murphy has the gentleness and curiosity of a remarkable person, so there’s not much to dig into with him. Davidson will speak of Murphy as a great inspiration, but rarely beyond something as nostalgic as putting on the profanity-fueled Eddie Murphy: Raw when he was way too young to be watching it. Chappelle and Seinfeld will divulge some comedian philosophy that applies to Murphy, but it all feels like familiar notes you could easily apply to other comics. Interestingly, Chappelle and Seinfeld are present as highly controversial figures for their age, stumbling on topics involving being transgender and perceived masculinity. Compared to them, Murphy seems like an angel that you’d want to hang out with, but not necessarily to hear his life story.
Eddie Murphy comes across as so nice, reflective, and docile in Being Eddie that it feels achingly casual in its look back on his legacy. Few celebs seem to have had such ease in their career, where Murphy appears to coast through life, casually strolling back into the frame. Although refreshingly honest and charming in how he presents himself and his massive estate, there’s always this awkwardness in the air as if Eddie is silently telling the filmmakers, “I’m not sure what y’all are looking for here, but have at it, I guess.”
