Review by moviesareawayoflife

Eddie Murphy co-wrote and directed Harlem Nights so this must have been a labour of love for him. A star studded cast support him including Richard Pryor, and for Due South fans like me it was a treat to see David Marciano in this. It is a good looking film which veers between comedy and drama. I found Pryor very good in his role toning down the manic comedic elements so prevalent in Superman 3. However, at times the comedy is so over the top it is toe curling. The particular offending scene is where Eddie Murphy is being chased in his car and the shootout after. The gangsters after him are way too over the top to the point of ruining the scene. Harlem Nights has a great film hidden somewhere here, but as viewers what we get on screen is merely a good film.