How about Jim Carrey? His standup was never hugely popular but it was very funny and is how he got into showbusiness (here are a few links to some stuff on youtube -> http://www.youtube.com/results?q=jim+carrey+standup&search_type= ). He was, for a time, the absolute biggest name and highest paid comedic actor. I think things really started to go down fast for him after Me, Myself, and Irene. I didn’t see Horton Hears a Who, but with the exception of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I don’t think he has made anything watchable in a long, long time.
Hmmm… all this beard stroking and pontificating back and forth about Eddie Murphy’s merits, and one of his most nuanced and brilliant performances gets exactly one mention.
The “Donkey” character voice characterization in the original Shrek was one of the most brilliant examples of voice work I have ever seen. His timing was impeccable and he absolutely made the character come alive, and IMO made the film worth watching. Everyone whining about what a hack he has become and why they are so puzzled he still gets work needs to remember that performance. It was distilled genius and not one actor in a million could have done it as well.
His, or the film’s voice talent coach/coordinator? Films are not one-man deals.
Frickin’ hilarious stand-up led to his run on “Home Improvement”. HI was good, solid TV comedy, mainly because Tim had great folks working with him (especially Patricia Richardson). The Santa Claus movies have been good.
Since then, not so much.
I agree.
That act I believe was on HBO (the one with the awful parker Lewis-inspired multi-color shirt) and there are some great moments in that.
Jimmy Stewart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7q6tI9gohM&feature=related
Holy Men: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9QI-dnOkmk&feature=related
On guns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z-6wnJ2uvc&feature=related
Well, I like them, and I agree that many others have gone on to success, like those on your list.
BTW, SNL is just unwatchable anymore. What happened, no more free cocaine backstage?
Steve Martin is amazing. If we’re talking Roxanne-era, you have to give him props for All of Me.
I like to think of SNL as a petrie dish. Mostly it just grows worthless mold that’s about exciting to watch as, well, growing mold. But every 5 or years ir so, something grows in it worth keeping and cultivating.
It’s overdue.
Well Murphy went from blue to PG right around the time that he got caught with a prostitute right? He was getting older, he had kids and I’ll bet that he didn’t want his kids growing up thinking that Dad is a filthy whoremonger or something. Maybe after they’re grown he’ll go back to doing something else.
For my money, The Jerk, The Man With 2 Brains, Roxanne, All Of Me, LA Story, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Bowfinger (the only late-era Martin and Eddie Murphy movie I can stand) are comedy classics.
Tina Fey.
Carrey was perfect on “In Living Color”. He stole the show from the talented Wayans. He has never done anything close to that level again.
No idea–what radio station is that?
Agreed. My wife and I were talking about this tonight.
She says, and I agree, that it seems Eddie wanted to make films that his kids could watch. Considering all the violence, sensationalization of drug use, and otherwise focusing on bad things, Eddie actually makes great movies these days. He’s managed to successfully transform his schtick and be entertaining.
Ben Elton.
Two of my all time favorite comedy movies are The Jerk and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. If those two movies don’t make you laugh, your funny bone is broken. IMHO of course.
Parenthood too. Very, very good movie.
(bolding mine)
While I have nothing to add to the Steve Martin argument, I do have one little nitpick, as I have often seen comments like this on the boards. Even though it seems like Steve Martin was on SNL just about every week back in the late 70’s, he was never actually a cast member.
Steve Martin’s performance in All of Me should have won an Oscar. I actually started wondering how they got Lily Tomlin into Steve Martin (no jokes, please). He didn’t act like her–he became her.
I’m not sure. I think after Beverly Hills Cop III Murphy was about tapped out and needed a new genre. If he could of, he would of kept doing the adult themed comedies/action flicks.
I went to his talk show. Booorrrring. Even I could find straight lines he was passing up. It really isn’t his talent. You have to have a quick wit, and it helps IMO to be able to be absurdest with it.
Phil Hartman: What do you think is on the back of this jacket?
David Letterman: Oh, a diagram of the Heimlich Maneuver?
Hartman has to pause to laugh.