Customer Reviews

Holy Man

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I absolutely LOVED this movie!!! I also can't believe the reviews of this movie on Amazon - there alot of cold-hearted cynics out there!!! This a movie where you need to suspend your disbelief (which movie isn't?). The movie isn't about Eddie Murphy's charachter at all - it's really about Jeff Goldblum's charachter (Ricky Hayman). He plays a hard bitten, whealer-dealer television sales executive at a not-so-high-rating home shopping station, who meets, firstly, a beautiful girl (played gorgeously by Kelly Preston), and secondly, a spiritual man on a pilgrimage (Eddie Murphy). Eddie's charachter , G, asks for nothing, but comes into Ricky's life and teaches him ( and the viewers of the shopping network) that there is something more important about life than shopping and acquiring material possessions, and becomes the hottest thing on T.V. I watched this movie with my family (husband and 3 children aged 9 to 6). We all thoroughly enjoyed it, and then danced around the lounge-room to the closing credit music by Stevie Wonder. A really up-lifting movie that brought joy to my heart!!!

There's no way to put into words how it feels to come from a film having taking something special away. After having read many reviews on Holy Man, both here and elsewhere, I've come to the conclusion that this is one of those movies most people just don't get. This is indeed the age of crudity, where shock value is held in higher regard than genuinely good storytelling and uplifting characters. This film succeeds on all fronts by offering itself not just as a hilarious comedy(which it certainly is), but also as a means to convey a message that's too often ingnored and scoffed at. Let's face it, most people today are master cynics, unwilling to accept any positivity but always ready to rebuke something. It seems to me, that's why this film was not a comercial success.

Eddie Murphy has created a phenomenal character in G and plays him with enough love and abandon I found myself smiling all the way through. Forget wondering exactly who G is. If you're really spending time on that, you've failed to see the point of the story. Besides, some things are best left to the imagination. Ambiguity doesn't have to be a scary concept.

The love story between Goldblum and Preston isn't perfect, but their performances-particuarly Goldblum's-are worth seeing. All in all, my only complaint is that their aren't any special features to speak of and letterbox format stinks. Otherwise, let go of yourself and rent this wonderful film. Watch it with a close friend or a loved one. You'll be glad you did!

I know it isn't exactly what you might expect from Eddie Murphy. And of course it is not classic Sci-Fi. Nevertheless, it deals with subjects that have been present in SF since the very beginning. Alienation of man, consumism, manipulation from the media.

I find some similarities between this movie and Truman Show, which I consider to be SF too. Not all Jim Carrey fans seem to like TS, because it's different from the kind of comedy he is known by. The same goes here to Eddie Murphy. He is not wildly funny, he is a spiritual character who gets the best from people around him.

And the character who really makes this movie, for me anyway, is Jeff Goldblum's character. It is he who goes through a transformation, and makes us think if we are going in the right direction.

I actually loved this movie, and recommend it to everybody, although you shouldn't expect an average comedy, but a deep thought-provoking movie instead.

Look, the biggest complaint I have with the people that have reviewed this movie is they keep comparing it to other Eddie Murphy movies and it's just not. That would be like comparing The Majestic to The Mask and saying it wasn't Jim Carry's finest... It's a good movie but it is a very special movie. The jokes aren't a laugh a second but the good messages are. I don't think it should have recieved the Oscar or anything like that but it's none the less enjoyable, smart humor. Quit watching it with a running track of Nutty Professor in your head and just take it for what it is. A quality movie that really does have some good comentary on american ethics. I'm giving it five stars not because I think it's the best movie ever made but because it dares to be different than a lot of things that are already out there. Yes it could have been just another Daddy Daycare... but then there would just be two kinda average comedies instead of two feel good movies.

The movie is not funny, but it is well written, and I particularly enjoy seeing Goldblums thought process, wrestling with himself over right and wrong, while G is always one step ahead of him, knowing that Goldblum will ultimately do the right thing. I was supprised at how intellegent this movie was. Wow, why is this movie was so harshly criticised by other Amazon visitors?

When I first saw this movie at the show. I walked out of the theater with a smile on my face. This is one of those feel good movies. The kind that comfort the viewer and reflect humanity's good side. In this case it's Murphys character, who plays a spiritual guru named "G". Who manages to land a host spot on a home shopping channel. But he's not on to sell the products. He's there to tell us about our values. What we really need! And that's is love. Not love for material possesions, but the love for life and eachother. And that's why I find it to be a satisfying satire. Also I thought that Jeff Goldblum's performance was engaging. He almost steals the show! But this is a Murphy movie all the way. Only one of those good not funny ones. I recommend it!

This has got to be one of the funniest Eddie Murphy films there are. He was a religous man on a pilgrimage. Suddenly after meeting Ricky Hayman, he is transformed into a QVC type host. The situations are laugh out loud funny and should be enjoyed by people of all ages. It does in fact have a PG rating.

Ricky Hayman, right hand of Good Buy Shopping Network's owner John McBainbridge, is responsible for over two years of very bad sales numbers. He gets a last chance. Accidentally, he and Kate Newell nearly run over G with his car and decide to take him with them. What they never could guess was that G really is the one good man around. Being on the search for enlightenment, G offers his help generously to save Ricky's job. His natural, uncontrollable behaviour soon gets Ricky into really big trouble, but the sales numbers now go up for the first time in months. "Holy Man is a good comedy. It provides some laugh-out-loud moments, but for the most part, weaves a compassionate story in an appropriately low-key style. Its message is clear and timely. Definitely well worth watching especially if you have a quirky sense of humour.

I'm writting this review for one simple reason, I was astounded to see it has a measly 3 star rating. Thats totally absurd. Its a definite 4 star movie and that's only because I only give 5 stars to the most incredible flicks. I'm giving 5 here because of all the idiots who slandered this really entertaining movie. One key thing that makes a movie a 4 or 5 star movie to me is if it is rewatchable or not. I've seen this one about 5 times and enjoy it a lot. The key here is Eddie Murphy is so talented, he has more than enough depth to do so well in parts like this where he isnt trying to crack you up by being a total baffoon, but rather he's entertaining you with a great character, made so believeable. It's amazing how well he does playing multiple characters in other movies, something few can do any better than he does. But some shallow minds can't seem to realize this is called talent. some people have a lot of it, like Steve Martin for example. He makes a great movie like "Shopgirl" and doesnt have to be a funny man throughout the movie, he is enjoyable just because he is versatile, and TALENTED. ofcourse Clair Danes is a show stealer and truly deserves being the center of the movie and boy does she ever play it perfectly,, maybe I should go leave a review for that one too if it isn't already rated at 5 stars. anyway, to make one last point here, this is a movie you add to your collection if you enjoy pure entertainment and love to watch fun unique movies. If you are a one track mind kind of person, just slander the movie like all the other small minds seem to be doing, but to intelligent people everywhere, this is a fun movie worth buying, and watching many times to come! Enjoy!

"Holy Man" is a comedy about a home shopping channel executive named Ricky (Jeff Goldblum) whose sales have not seen an increase in over a year. A marketing consultant (Kelly Preston) and Ricky end up meeting a very unusual person named G (Eddie Murphy) who just might be able to help them.

G is earthy, philosophical, mystical and non-materialistic. He is a man on a spiritual quest but because is willing to help others he agrees to become a shopping channel celebrity. Along the way, G teaches Ricky, as well as the shoppers, a few things about living a more fulfilling life. Ricky and G are an odd match and their interactions are funny.

With its great acting and an amusing story "Holy Man" should appeal to most audiences. The film is great for the whole family and doesn't have anything most people would find objectionable. "Holy Man" is a fun movie that will probably make you laugh at least a few times.