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Title: Eddie Murphy Raw

Region: One

Genre: Stand-up Comedy Concert Film

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Samuel L. Jackson, and Deon Richmond

Writer: Eddie Murphy

Sketch Written By: Eddie Murphy and Keenan Ivory Wayans

Director: Robert Townsend

Feature length: 90 minutes

Languages: English Dolby Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions

Packaging: Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 12

Sound: Dolby Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 1987/DVD Release: 2004

Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Home Video Distributor: Paramount Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

There are few comics that can make a feature film of their stand-up comedy act and pull in the kind of crossover audience that Eddie Murphy managed to grab when his concert film “Eddie Murphy Raw” was released in theaters back in 1987. Not since Richard Prior had there been such a dynamic African America comedic talent. When “Raw” was released in theaters it seemed like Murphy was truly in his prime and among the things that surprise me about the film, which I had not seen before screening this DVD release in more than fifteen years, is that I remembered so many of his jokes and some of it I thought came from his HBO comedy performance in the early 1980s entitled “Delirious.” Murphy has since reinvented himself with hit films like the remakes of “The Nutty Professor” and “Doctor Dolittle” as well as his voice work in films like “Shrek” and “Shrek 2” as well as “Mulan.” After watching “Raw” one wishes Murphy would step back up to the microphone again and do a new stand-up film. With everything that has gone on in his life since he made “Raw” as well as the wealth of newsworthy world events that have occurred in the last fifteen years or so, I think Murphy could easily fill a one time only two-hour pay per view special and probably make more money from it than he did on some of his feature films. I also wish Murphy would make some more comedies geared toward adults. It may not have been the kind of box office hit that Murphy would make in the 1980s, but his team up with Steve Martin in “Bowfinger” was in my opinion some of his best onscreen work in years.

There are more than a few ironies to note while watching Murphy’s stand-up act again on this DVD such as comments about Michael Jackson and especially his riff about a woman cutting a man’s penis off seemed almost prophetic. Murphy may not be the same man he was in 1987, but that certainly does not mean that he has lost any of his talent. I think his work in this film is nothing short of brilliant. Interesting to note that Robert Townsend (Hollywood Shuffle) directed the film and the opening sketch was co-written by Keenan Ivory Wayans (In Living Color), who also served as a Producer on the film. Samuel L. Jackson has an appearance in the opening sketch as one of Murphy’s Uncles while Deon Richmond, who played “Bud” on “The Cosby Show,” appears in the sketch as a young Eddie Murphy. Samuel L. Jackson also has a cameo in the Eddie Murphy comedy hit “Coming To America.”

Paramount Home Entertainment presents “Eddie Murphy Raw” in the original 16 by 9 enhanced widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio of the original theatrical exhibition. There is a bit of grain and few flecks on the print from age, but otherwise “Eddie Murphy Raw” looks just fine as a concert film on DVD. The original English Dolby Surround Soundtrack is presented here, which suits the nature of the film just fine. I doubt a 5.1 remix would do anything to liven up the film and think it is unnecessary in this case given the nature of the performance. English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired are encoded onto the DVD as options. The menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. Unfortunately there are no extra value features added to this DVD release. It would have been great to get a new retrospective interview with Eddie Murphy reflecting on his performance back in 1987, but at least we finally have the film on DVD and it is well worth revisiting or checking out for the very first time for those of you were too young to see the film back in 87. “Eddie Murphy Raw” will debut at retailers on and offline from Paramount Home Entertainment on Tuesday, September 7, 2004.

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