Eddie Murphy has agreed to host the 84th Academy Awards, according to Deadline. Oscar producer Brett Ratner is expected to announce to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences that he’s picked Murphy for the gig. Incidentally, Murphy is starring in the soon-to-be-released Ratner-directed comedy “Tower Heist.” Interesting.
To be honest, we’re not yet sure if this is a bad or good idea. Some things that give us pause:
First of all, is Eddie Murphy still funny? Sure, the animated donkey-version of Murphy is pretty hilarious in the “Shrek” movies, but when was the last time he did any stand up or starred in something that grownups would find funny? It’s been a while for Murphy. Does he still have it?
Eddie Murphy is kind of a baby. Remember when he stormed out of the Oscars in 2007 after the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award was given to Alan Arkin for “Little Miss Sunshine” instead of to him for “Dream Girls?” What a diva.
And who can forget the paternity back-and-forth with Scary Spice that same year after he denied being the father of her unborn child? That whole thing was just weird — mostly because those two seemed like the most unlikely couple in the history of has-beens who unite to form unlikely couples.
However, his career is undoubtedly in need of a boost. This could very well be his moment to turn it all around. It could also be a pivotal moment for the Oscars, which has no where to go but up after last year’s hack job by hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway.
Do you think Eddie Murphy will make or break the Oscars? Either way, we’ll be watching.
