Review of Harlem Nights (1989) by Bryan K — 05 Oct 2007

If there's one thing Eddie Murphy shouldn't have done at the downturn of his career is get behind the camera to direct. Maybe he was burned out with success with his previous movie, "Coming to America".

I would have thought that a "comedy" with top-notch celebrities such as Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx and Della Reese would have brought me into fits of laughter and tears, but only tears associated with constant, heavy yawning were to be had.

Richard Pryor doesn't have a funny moment in this movie. It almost seems that he's there to do Eddie Murphy a favor. Redd Foxx is pretty much himself as in anything that he stars in. Della Reese is the best part of the movie, playing a heavy-set whorehouse momma who doesn't take crap from anyone.

This movie would have flowed better had it been cut to 90 minutes or less, but instead drags on for almost two hours. In between the few laughs there are actors just being shuffled around to their next mark. Maybe this was just a pet project for Eddie because it certainly seems like it was a film school assignment.

The interior sets are very nice with the exception of the modern day Budweiser beer bottle in the bar scene, but then again historical accuracy is not one of this movies high points. Exterior sets look fake and thrown together.

I would say see this movie to see Richard Pryor in one of his last acting roles, but I just can't. He was more entertaining in Superman 3, and that's not saying much at all.