Big bucks for stand-up movie

American comic Eddie Griffin has sold the film of his stand-up routine for more than £3million.

Distributors Miramax won a bidding war for the completed movie Eddie Griffin: Dis-Funk-Tional Family, paying around $5million.

The film intersperses his stage act with footage a real family reunion, featuring two of his uncles, ex-pimp Buckley and porn afficionado Curtis.

Studio executives believe the film could have the same box-office potential as The Original Kings Of Comedy - the Spike Lee-directed film of the all-black comedy tour featuring the likes of Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac

Griffin, 34, started his career winning $50 at an open mic spot in his home town of Kansas City, and went on to earn himself the epitaph "the king of hip-hop stand-ups".

He has starred in a long-running cable TV sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie, and has had a number of roles in movies, including Armageddon and The Last Boy Scout.

Published: 15 Jul 2002