Previews for “The Holy Man” give the illusion that the movie is a comedy showcase. But the film is not all it was hyped up to be.

In one sneak peek the audience sees Eddie Murphy electrocuting Morgan Fairchild with a ridiculous at-home facelift-product she has suctioned onto her head. The device stretches and distorts her glamorous face with a such unrealistic hilarity that, along with Murphy as the star, make the movie seem like it will be a laugh fest.

However, just like Fairchild’s skin, the previews stretch the truth about the type of character Murphy actually plays. Sure, his character has a sense of humor, but only in the nicest way.

It seems Murphy keeps straying further away from his “Raw” roots, first with “The Nutty Professor” and then this summer’s kiddy flick, “Dr. Doolittle.”

Many fans may have thought “The Holy Man” was Murphy’s return to comedy for grown-ups. Instead, he is stuck in a role that wastes his comedic skills we all know and love.

Murphy stars as a spiritual leader simply named G. He is a smiling saint, a man who talks the way a self-help book reads.

The movie begins with G wandering down a busy Miami interstate, kneeling occasionally to whiff the fragrant grass along the heavily-polluted road.

He decides to help two Home Shopping Channel executives, Ricky (Jeff Goldblum) and Kate (Kelly Preston), who are stranded with a a flat tire. Kate is impressed with G and his wisdom, while Ricky is immediately suspicious.

Ricky’s determination to achieve both financial and professional success has left him with an empty heart and wallet. He is desperately struggling to bump up his sales, so after seeing G work his magic at a party (G hypnotizes a man to conquer his fear of flying), Ricky asks him to sell products on the Home Shopping Channel.

The network already features a number of has-been celebrities using their names to sell worthless products. James Brown sells the “James Brown Security System,” which looks like an oversized canteen, and when a button is pressed it blares “Ow! Help me, help me.”

G is against material possessions, but he agrees because it is “what Ricky wants.” Once on the air, G preaches about how goofy the products are and even goes so far as to destroy them in order to make his point. Mysteriously though, people begin buying the junky items at a skyrocketing rate.

The movie never explains how telling people not to buy miracle products leads them to actually spend their money. The audience does see the families and friends in their homes glued to their televisions watching G, which gives the movie a “Truman Show” feel.

“The Holy Man” also is not short on cheesy moments. The network gives G his own show named “The G Spot.” And the movie ends with a joyous, nationally televised embrace between Kate and Ricky.

As for the actors, Goldblum does seem to be the perfect candidate for spiritual reawakening. His darting eyes, mumbled sarcastic remarks and nervous twitches suggest he is a man on the edge.

In contrast, Preston’s role is more disappointing. At first, she plays a determined woman with a plan to save the company, but at the end of the movie she’s all smiles and gushes.

The biggest downside to “The Holy Man” is that it is often meant to be taken seriously. Moviegoers are supposed to be inspired by the words of the ever-forgiving G, along with a Ricky, Kate and the rest of the fictional home-shopping audience.

But the inspirational feeling wears off quickly once reality sets back in, and all that’s left are a few remembered cheesy parts.

2 1/2 stars out of five

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Teresa Halvorsen is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Northwood.