I’m specifically talking about Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy here. Yesterday, I was watching some greatest SNL moments show on E! and watching the old clips of both of these guys reminded me of how absolutely funny they both were. Now, Martin I suppose you could give some leeway to since he always wanted to be an all-around actor, and used his stand up as a way to get into the biz. But I’ll be damned if I still wouldn’t rather listen to his “Let’s Get Small” album, or watch The Jerk again. I couldn’t even tell you the last movie the man was in that I was halfway interested in. He went from Wild and Crazy Steve to Smarmy Actor Steve, and it just ain’t funny no more.
Then there’s Murphy. What the hell? This guy should have his SAG card revoked. One of the funniest dudes of all time content to sit around and make the worst family fare that comes out any more. Shit, I’d rather watch some glop like Because of Winn-Dixie than sit through a new Eddie Murphy movie. The downhill slide started with The Nutty Professor (or perhaps Dr. Doolittle), and has continued ever since. The man has betrayed his talents all for the sake of…what, exactly? Richard Pryor made some god-awful goopy movies as well, but at his heart he was still always Richard Pryor. Murph, on the other hand, has seemed more than willing to sell out consistently. All that Shrek must have gone to his wallet.
