PHOTO COURTESY NETFLIX

The film is “Being Eddie,” because it definitely couldn’t be called “Understanding Eddie.”

In a pleasant yet thin documentary, we spend some time with superstar Eddie Murphy. He putters about the house, speculating on past glories and future possibilities. He reflects on friends and favorite projects. He opines on the state of comedy and the realities of the entertainment business.

He rarely gives a glimpse into what seems to be a calculated, gentle exterior — and even when he does, it feels like an accident.

Or, perhaps, a feat of editing. Director Angus Wall made his name as an editor, including work with David Fincher on films including “The Social Network” and “Zodiac.” Knowing that Wall is an editor by trade makes an unusual juxtaposition feel loaded: At one moment, Murphy reminisces about a childhood fear — the star recalls getting out of bed repeatedly to ensure that the gas burners on the stove were turned off, a habit he speculates could be undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder. A moment later, Wall cuts to some of Murphy’s fellow comics, who speculate on why Murphy no longer performs stand-up.

No one says it (the editing ensures they don’t have to), but the implication is clear: perhaps there’s a psychological block between Murphy and the microphone.

That’s the closest “Being Eddie” gets to true insight. Mostly, Murphy calmly discusses his career and worldview; even when discussing loss (referencing the untimely death of his brother, the comedian Charlie Murphy), he’s unflappable. Some of the superstars who contribute interviews — Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan and Chris Rock speak extensively — wonder at what hidden reserves of emotion lurk behind Murphy’s stoic surface.

Mostly, though, they just talk about how great he is.

The film is engaging, in that Murphy is a funny and enigmatic presence, but it’s remarkably thin and almost entirely hagiographic. Similar documentaries, such as recent looks at Steve Martin and Michael J. Fox, manage to be both cooperative and insightful; “Being Eddie” feels more like an awards-show tribute writ long.

Maybe “Playing Eddie” would be better. For the most part, the film feels more like performance than simply being.

My Rating: 5/10

“Being Eddie” is now streaming on Netflix.