Aaron1375 Review of Harlem Nights

Harlem Nights (1989)

Loads of comedic talent and the film is a bore. It just makes no sense.

[4/10 · 10 September 2010]

This film should have been the ultimate laugh riot. You had Eddie Murphy in the flick and though I am not his biggest fan there are times when he truly shines. Not only is he featured in this flick, but so too is Richard Pryor and I do enjoy Richard Pryor movie. To top it off you have Redd Foxx and he is an absolutely hysterical. You also have a cameo by Arsenio Hall who was at this time still relevant. With all these very funny people, why did I find myself bored to tears watching the movie? I can not answer, but suffice to say while not all bad and with a few chuckles here and there for the most part I was disappointed with this one. Seems Richard and Eddie just do not make a very good team as the two did not have a good chemistry together on the screen. I would much rather see Richard paired with Gene Wilder as they had great chemistry together. It is like Eddie and Arsenio, they actually seemed to be a rather good team as evidence by the success of "Coming to America" (though I did not care for that one much) and they also were part of one of the very few funny scenes in the movie. Redd Foxx is not featured nearly enough to really make an impact either positive or negative, but at this time he was close to having the heart attack that would end his life. When you look at the cover of this one and look at the stars you just know this film has to work. Alas, with the exception of a scene or two it does not.