A different way of telling a story

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Continuing my plan to watch every Eddie Murphy movie in order, I come to the penultimate movie in his filmography A Thousand Words (2012) Plot In A Paragraph: After stretching the truth on a deal with a spiritual guru, literary agent Jack McCall (Murphy) finds a Bodhi tree on his property. Its appearance holds the consequences of every word he speaks.Murphy reteamed with Brian Robbins the director of Norbit and Meet Dave for this movie. Made in 2008, it was meant to be released in 2010, then it sat on the shelf for another two years, before it was finally released. This movie has serious potential to be a great, touching movie, but it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be!! I certainly would it call it a kids flick. It's really silly at times, then profoundly deep at others. In the hands of a stronger director, with a clear goal, this had the potential to be one of Murphy's best. As it is, it is very disjointed!! I'm not even 100% sure if I understood the end.Partially, this is Murphy's fault. He collaborates with friends rather than strong film-makers. I frequently say that the secret of Tom Cruise's success is that he works with all of the best directors. Murphy is the opposite. He keeps making films with hacks. Who else would make three films with Brian Robbins?? Robbins last three theatrical movies all starred Murphy, and he has not directed anything since this movie. A Thousand Words only grossed $18 million at the domestic box office.

Definitely not a family film. Numerous profanities, including an F word, and pornographic. The daycare scene presents a gratuitous promotion of gay couples. It is extremely sad, because the premise of the movie is creative; a man leaves a small taint of blood when he touches a tree and gets a sliver. The selfish, verbose man, insensitive because he talks incessantly and refuses to listen to others, finds out he is now connected to the large tree and each word he utters results in a leaf dropping. He is warned that he will die when the last leaf has fallen. Unfortunately, the director chose to mix creativeness with porn, resulting in a worthless film.

I happened to come across this movie by sheer luck as it was showing on TV, I gave it a chance since I saw it being an Eddie Murphy movie. And I will say that I am very glad that I did so, because this might be the best Eddie Murphy movie ever, or at the very least it is his most touching of movies.The story turned out to be rather interesting and refreshing from the usual movies that Eddie Murphy is in. The story is about a man's fate tied to a tree, and with each word he speaks a leaf falls from the tree, slowly killing it and in turn also endangering the man.I was really surprised at the level of impact the story had, and it mixed drama and comedy together quite well. But near the end of the movie the story really stepped up and into character. And I think some might actually need a tissue at hand at that point.The cast did good jobs with their given roles, and it was nice to see Eddie Murphy unfold his talent in a combination of drama and comedy, proving that he is much more than a goofy laugh, a handful of jokes and one-liners. This is really a movie that made Eddie Murphy shine Again.Regardless of if you are a fan of Eddie Murphy or not, then "A Thousand Words" is definitely worth watching because it is a beautiful story put to film. I am rating it seven out of ten stars and must applaud Eddie Murphy for his performance in this movie.

'A Thousand Words' is a fair watch, where Eddie Murphy, a superb actor, shines in the central role. 'A Thousand Words' Synopsis: After stretching the truth on a deal with a spiritual guru, literary agent Jack McCall finds a Bodhi tree on his property. Its appearance holds a valuable lesson on the consequences of every word we speak.'A Thousand Words' has an entertaining first-hour, but an ordinary second. The humor is pedestrian at times, but some sequences are funny, thanks to Murphy's impeccable sense of comedy. The Screenplay doesn't offer wholesome entertainment, but its passable nonetheless. Brian Robbins's Direction is so-so. Cinematography & Editing are good.Performance-Wise: Eddie Murphy is a comedic force. He's the life of the show. Clark Duke is first-rate. Kerry Washington is impressive. Cliff Curtis & Ruby Dee are adequate.On the whole, 'A Thousand Words' rests on Eddie Murphy's undeniable talent.