Someone really has to tell Eddie Murphy that ninety-nine percent of the comedy in his newest supply of tedious and lackluster entertainment has been dated for a very long time. Still stuck in a period where stereotypes and broad alien comedy is hilarious, “Meet Dave” is a relative remake of “Coming to America” with bits and pieces derived from “The Coneheads,” “My Stepmom is an Alien” and “Terminator 2.” I mean let’s face it here: “Meet Dave” is really just a fast and easy pay check regardless of the box office performance with Murphy channeling his character from the aforementioned comedy in a science fiction setting. The small aliens of “Dave” crash land on Earth in the mandroid “Dave” who is looking for a Maguffin by way of a small orb that poses great importance. While on Earth, the crew who consists of workman for every part of the body (including a Lieutenant Buttocks--hyuk) begins to discover the wonders of the planet… like water, and hot dogs, and rap music.

Ed Helms, Judah Friedlander and Gabrielle Union are given almost nothing to do, as Murphy sucks up most of the dialogue learning of the intricacies of the handshake, while also being able to walk into a public school and be confused for a substitute teacher without a second glance from the faculty. He’s also never asked if he’s an actual teacher, nor do they look up his credentials. There’s science fiction and then there’s just plain stupidity. “Meet Dave” is a bit of a return to the norms for Murphy who can only seem to find a comfortable genre pigeonhole in comedies that either only appeal to families, or to folks who enjoy broad racial and social stereotypes (“Norbit”). This is the Eddie Murphy collecting a paycheck and presuming to be entertaining families. I doubt anyone will find anything to laugh about here.

I don't understand you Murphy. You pull in good performances in "Dream Girls" and then just opt to be your usual lazy, sloppy, broad self in slop like "Meet Dave," a remake of your fish out of water comedy "Coming to America." You should be better than this.