Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Eddie Murphy: Raw Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 17, 2024

Eddie Murphy was an icon of the 1980s, standing apart from the crowded field as both one of the top movie stars of the decade and one of the most beloved comedians of the time. While he is certainly best known for his roles in films like Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hrs, and Coming to America: his biggest hits from his 80s heyday (we'll forgive and forget more recent duds, and curiously more family-friendly fare, like The Adventures of Pluto Nash and The Haunted Mansion). Yet even in that string of hit after hit, Murphy's stand-up comedy was also of note. Eddie Murphy: Raw is the high point of his stand-up comedy, a theatrically released 1987 film that cemented Murphy's viability as a top performer of his time. The film is crude, no doubt about it, and certainly not for sensitive ears. Yet Murphy rolls with the coarse language and humorous dynamics that see him hit on everything from sex to celebrity, often within the same sentence.

The arrival.

Official synopsis: 'RAW', the record-setting #1 concert film of all time, is Eddie Murphy doing what he does best: making people laugh. Filmed live at New York's Felt Forum, Murphy delights, shocks and entertains with dead-on celebrity impressions; observations on '80s love, sex and marriage; a remembrance of Mom's hamburgers and much more. Take a front-row center seat for the hottest show in town. The hottest comedian in recent entertainment history. And discover that Eddie Murphy's stand-up comedy performance is one standout event.

Eddie Murphy: Raw is not merely a blanket stand-up show. For the most part, it is, but rather than begin with Murphy waking onto the stage (which he does do bathed in shadow and accented by a red backlight), the film begins with a dramatized recreation from his childhood: a thanksgiving family gathering in which his younger self tells a crude joke about poop, pee, and farting. It's shocking but sets the stage for the chorus of crudity and the profuseness of profanity to follow (the film was at one time the record holder for most "F" bombs in a feature film, a title which Goodfellas would later claim). The opening title sequence captures the frenzied crowd awaiting Murphy's arrival at the theater (and sharing their favorite Murphy films) while also dramatically following his arrival via limousine and escorted jaunt to the backstage area before appearing before an enthusiastic crowd that would seem content to clap for 90 minutes, but Murphy eventually settles the crowd and dives headfirst into his routine.

And what a varied routine it is! Celebrities from Bill Cosby to Brooke Shields are in the spotlight (or the crosshairs, as the case may be), but Murphy is not content to simply poke and prod at the rich and famous. He hits at homosexuality, non-English speakers imitating his act, sexually transmitted diseases, sex and couplings, various world cultures and stereotypes, and much more. Murphy is a master of the art, flowing from one topic to the next with nary a pause, effortlessly transitioning from one idea, topic, gag, and gesture to another with a grace that defies the crude content but that strings it together with startling harmony and forward advancement.

Eddie Murphy: Raw Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Eddie Murphy: Raw looks fairly good, all things considered, on Blu-ray. The 1080p image shows the fundamentals of its filmic lineage by presenting a good, if not slightly clumpy, grain structure throughout the film. It's plenty clear, though to be sure the dark stage limits many opportunities for definition beyond Murphy and his attire. Clarity is always good and color balance in the comedy segments (read: most of the movie) is fine, even if the background shadows teeter on crush. Still, the blacks are nice and deep and the spotlight on Murphy allows for good juxtaposition that pulls the focus to him for the whole of the film. The blue and black outfit offers deep enough color reproduction, while skin tones appear natural. The prologue at family Thanksgiving gathering offers pleasing filmic characteristic and more ample opportunity to soak in the era-specific clothing and home furnishings. Grain is consistent here, too, clarity is solid, and colors are a little soft but nicely balanced. There are no serious print issues or encode flaws of which to speak. This may not be the highest quality Blu-ray in existence, but most fans and videophiles should be pleased enough with the look and feel of this vintage, shot-on-film, stand-up comedy motion picture.

Eddie Murphy: Raw Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Paramount releases Eddie Murphy: Raw to Blu-ray with a very good DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. While some fans will be itching for a more modern (read: more channels) mix, the 2.0 track is unquestionably and undeniably stout, offering exceptional definition to, and prodigious volume of, the opening title music and some of the frenzied components accompanying it. The music is a highlight for its vigorous offering and exceptional front-end stretch. While it might lack the absolute elegance of the finest recordings, its vitality and effort are hard to top. There is good separation between the channels and very wide push; there's none of this stunted sound or fear of stretch that too many 2.0 tracks share in common. The crowd applause and a few examples of assembled crowd din outside the show are healthy and impactful with, again, satisfyingly wide front stretch. Of course, the main element here is Murphy's speech, which plays with excellent clarity no matter how he adjusts his voice. The speech is always clear and refined with an impressively grounded front-center imaging stability.

Eddie Murphy: Raw Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Eddie Murphy: Raw contains no supplemental content. The main menu screen only offers options for "Play" and "Subtitles." No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover. It's just about as bare bones as they come.

Eddie Murphy: Raw Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eddie Murphy: Raw remains one of the preeminent standup comedy shows of the past few decades. Murphy's jokes are no doubt crude and in 2024 is absolutely guaranteed to offend many who hear the jokes with modernly attuned ears and see the show with more contemporarily lensed eyes, but those offended can rest assured that the show was hard-hitting -- indeed very raw -- even in 1987 when the film first aired. Love it or hate it, there is no questioning that Raw is a modern comedy classic that is sure to bedazzle, and maybe even bewilder, all these decades later. Paramount's Bu-ray is unfortunately featureless (and just about as bare-bones as a Blu-ray comes), but the video and audio presentations are rock-solid. This is a definite buy for fans.