Dolemite Is My Name: Perseverance Is My Game
After watching Dolemite is My Name twice—technically three times but the first time I watched it I was in and out like double-dutch, exhausted from a long day’s work—this movie, which is streaming on Netflix, immediately became one of my favorite films, the character of Rudy Ray Moore ranking high with another one of my all-time favorite movies, It’s a Wonderful Life’s George Bailey. Both movies coincidentally follow the inspiring journey of dreamers; Dolemite even has the vibe of a Frank Capra picture where the underdog finally wins at the end. Anybody with a dream, a goal, an idea, needs to watch this movie! When I first saw the trailer for Dolemite announcing the Big Return of Eddie Murphy, I thought it would be a movie that would simply serve as a vehicle for Eddie’s comeback, a way for him to ease back into acting, however, I was rewarded with so much more, and although Eddie’s return is impressive, Rudy Ray Moore’s gumption and perseverance take center stage. This story is heartwarming, humorous, and an all-around great time with a powerful message for anyone with a dream who strives to give something of themselves to the world. There is a tender scene in a diner where Rudy is talking to his friends about a new act he wants to deliver inspired by the stories spit by a hobo about a man named Dolemite, but Rudy’s friends clown him. Rudy storms out of the diner and his friend Jimmy chases after him and apologizes. “Hey, man,” Rudy says, “how’d my life get so damn small. Came out with some big plans, Jimmy. I was gonna do it all, just like Sammy Davis Jr. Movies, concerts, TV. Everything. This job at Dolphin’s supposed to be my temporary day job. Cut to a million years later, it’s all I’ve got.” One can empathize with Rudy who sees more for himself than what he currently has and thought success was going to come much faster instead of facing rejection at every corner. However, Rudy isn’t one to be pitied because he doesn’t let detours derail his dreams, demonstrating that with confidence and self-love you can make anything happen.
Rudy doesn’t accept no’s and takes matters into his hands by being an entrepreneur, creating his own company, borrowing money from his aunt to produce a comedy album, distributing his record on his own when he can’t sell it to a label. It’s a lesson for any of us thinking we should wait around for somebody to give us permission to share our passion and make the art we want to make. One of the greatest lessons Rudy provides is that you can’t let anyone tell you what they think you’re capable of; he doesn’t dwell in doubt just because no one else sees what he envisions for himself. Investing in yourself has a huge payoff as witnessed in the movie when Rudy’s comedy album becomes so hot on the street that the label can’t ignore it and they call him to buy it. If he had stopped when everyone was telling him no, the potential of a record being played and loved would’ve been non-existent. Rudy was right in believing in himself, becoming an independent artist to catapult his career, but he doesn’t stop at stand-up comedy; it’s not enough for him to be a singer and a comedian, he wants to do it all, entertaining to the fullest, broadening his audience without letting discrimination block him.
The coolest thing about Rudy is that he is no ego, all confidence. He gives Lady Reed, a woman he meets after witnessing her kick her cheating-ass man to the curb, the attention and encouragement she needs to be the performer she was born to be, recruiting her to his fledgling company, sharing the stage and the screen with her with aplomb. He drafts his friends for the Dolemite movie, assigning them jobs based on their individual talents and searches for a writer and a director (performed brilliantly by the phenomenal Wesley Snipes) because Rudy’s never made a movie before, has no idea what goes into making a movie, and therefore, knows he must rely on the knowledge of others to accomplish this colossal feat. Seeking financial support to make the movie, Rudy goes to his label to request an advance on future royalties knowing that if he blows it he will no longer own his records, however, he doesn’t care because he believes that people want a Dolemite movie. He tells the label: “I’m gonna bet on myself. Ain’t nobody gonna put me on the screen ‘cept for me.” Rudy demonstrates how you need to disregard the naysayers and follow your passion because at least you’ll be happy doing what you love. If no one believes in you, if everyone laughs at your dreams, muster Rudy’s independent spirit and determination and just do the damn thing. It’s remarkable how everyone in Rudy’s life tells him he can’t make a movie because he doesn’t have appeal, he’s not a movie star, he’s not an actor. Well, Rudy believes he can be a movie star and has a great response for the haters: “I willed myself into being a comedian. I willed myself into being a singer. I even made my own album in my goddamn living room. How come I can’t be in the movies?” And wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what he does, because when you keep working there’s no choice but for the thing you want to materialize.
Rudy isn’t the best comedian, or the best singer, or the best kung fu action star, but what he is best at is having drive, perseverance, ambition, passion, all things any artist needs to bring a project to fruition. He doesn’t let obstacles deter him from believing what he knows deep inside is true and works damn hard to bring Dolemite to the big screen, leaving his apartment because he can’t afford it anymore and moving into the Dunbar Hotel, a downtrodden building Rudy and his crew restore to film. It’s admirable how many times he can hear no and it doesn’t stop him, which ultimately leads him to not only finish Dolemite but create more films with his friends. My favorite moment in the movie is during a powerful, touching scene towards the end when Rudy and his friends are on their way to the movie premiere in a limousine and are reading the critics’ reviews, which offer nothing but negativity and misunderstanding (“Critics don’t know nothing”), lowering everyone’s spirits until Rudy empowers them with a passionate pep talk: “I’m proud of myself. Y’all should all be proud of ya’ll selves, too, ‘cause I’m proud of ya’ll, we family, and we did a movie. We going to see our movie.” It’s a beautiful message to anyone exposing their souls to create something that’s going out into the world to be scrutinized; if this movie has taught me anything it’s that you shouldn’t let what anyone says stop you because your only job is to do whatever you want to do and be proud of yourself for actually doing it. It’s a lesson I’ll carry with me forever.
Dolemite Is My Name. Directed by Craig Brewer, Netflix, 2019.