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 Norbit (2007)
Rated: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, some nudity and language. (edited for re-rating)
Runtime: 90 mins.
Director: Brian Robbins
Writer: Jay Scherick & David Ronn
Cast: Eddie Murphy; Thandie Newton; Terry Crews; Clifton Powell
Tagline: Have you ever made a really big mistake?
Release Date: February 9, 2007
Genre: Comedy
Memorable Quote: "Brack Peopre run fast! Probrems run faster."
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Official Site: www.meetnorbit.com/
View the Trailer: apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/norbit
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| Reel commentary: ... the physical gags and situational comedy in Norbit generate an occasional chortle here and there, but fall way short of being considered funny. We've laughed at actors wearing fat suits enough already and there's nothing new here ... full review |
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By Frank Wilkins
In Norbit, Eddie Murphy once again does his thing. But it's his thing that's beginning to grow tiresome. It began as a refreshing novelty in The Nutty Professor, carried over to The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps and later provided enough tacked-on mileage to launch Martin Lawrence and Tyler Perry's celebrity into the mainstream of popularity with Big Momma's House and Diary of a Mad Black Woman respectively.
Of course, I'm speaking of the act of applying layer upon layer of foam latex to an actor to create new personas. Specifically, to make an actor look obese so we can all laugh at the fat jokes without feeling bad about actually laughing at a real fat person. And for the most part it always worked primarily because moral lessons about acceptance and tolerance were addressed or the comedy was limited to physical sight gags. However, that's not the case with Norbit, where the entire overtone of the film is one of mean-spiritedness and downright cruelty at the expense of those that are different.
Now I'm not suggesting we take this film seriously enough to be offended by the content. However the days where an audience is impressed simply with how latex prosthetics can change an actor into several entirely different characters, and how camera techniques can place them on the screen at the same time, are gone. That bar has been raised. We now need fresh content and a good story to go along with our physical stereotypes.
The screenplay, by Jay Scherick and David Ronn (from a story developed by Murphy and his brother, Charles) provides only the thinnest of plots, as the film is clearly intentioned as nothing more than a vehicle to put on show the multiple talents of Murphy who is the titular character, Norbit. Via the aforementioned make-up techniques, he's also Rasputia, and even Mr. Wong as well.
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EDDIE MURPHY is Rasputia
All images copyright © 2007 Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures
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Norbit is a sheepish milquetoast of a man, complete with a '70s Afro, black horn-rimmed glasses, and a soft-spoken lisp that makes Truman Capote sound as firm and reassuring as Walter Cronkite. Reared in The Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage by the racially insensitive Mr. Wong, Norbit is left heartbroken after the love of his life, 5 year-old Kate, is adopted out to a loving family. That is until he meets the brutishly hulking Rasputia, who rescues him from a beating at the hands of a couple of schoolyard bullies, declares him her boyfriend and drags him to the altar after high school graduation.
Although marrying Rasputia does provide him with gainful employment in the family's construction company, it has a much bigger downside - she's an abusively overbearing wife. And Norbit hasn't the backbone to stand up to her. That is until he learns that the now grown-up Kate (Thandie Newton), who returns to buy the orphanage from the retiring Mr. Wong, is being bamboozled by Rasputia and her greedy brothers. It seems they want to turn the orphanage into a strip club called the Nipplopolis. Norbit decides that the orphanage and Kate are more important to him than continuing his relationship with Rasputia.
The physical gags and situational comedy in Norbit generate an occasional chortle here and there, but fall way short of being considered funny. We've laughed at actors wearing fat suits enough already and there's nothing new here. Rather than being asked to feel sympathy for, or find some kind of guilty humor in Rasputia the character, we're supposed to laugh at how disgusting and reprehensible an obese person is. It's just too hard a pill to swallow, even if it's not meant to be taken in all earnestness. Just in case your fat joke sensitivities are in hyper-drive, it might help to point out that the obese are not the only butt of the film's boorishness, as this is an equal opportunity offender. Asians, Jews, Caucasians, African-Americans and nearly every other creed and ethnicity are lampooned with equal muscle.
Murphy's talents seem to be endless and the capabilities of visual effects are becoming more and more realistic and spectacular, but a reciprocal escalation in quality screenwriting was needed here that wasn't delivered. As it is, Norbit is just another squandered performance by an extremely talented actor.
Frank Wilkins
This review also appears at Reel Talk Reviews.
 Comments
Anonymous Says:
February 20th, 2007 at 04:01
This movie is very offensive. The movie has multiple uses of profanity and it mocks Christianity. It has several racial remarks towards African american and Jewish people. Please do not waste your time or money watching this movie. I did not read the reviews before watching the movie; big mistake.
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Anonymous Says:
February 24th, 2007 at 02:08
i quite enjoyed this movie, it had a lot of comedy in it which is great, i loved the jokes. the whole movie was great, i recommend it to anyone.
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GeeGee Says:
March 15th, 2007 at 14:13
Comedy means I expect to laugh. Laughing is good and obesity is a struggle for many. Lighten up and live with it. The movie was not that funny but I was also not offended.
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Anonymous3 Says:
March 18th, 2007 at 13:56
it was a HORRIBLE movie. none of it was funny. and really, how many movies about disgustingly fat women jumping on people can we make and still be amused by...?
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King Says:
March 26, 2007 at 13:08
u lot r so fukin dom hu eva saud dat film was crap it's da best film
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Frank Says:
March 26, 2007 at 15:59
King, your comments and grammar skills confirm our stance on the film.
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420 Says:
January 22, 2008 at 08:18
Alright--I'll leave the skeptics/idiots some quotes.
"I'm a show you how a bitch go down the slide!"
(something like..) "now work your bilaterals, bicuspids, and bisexuals." marlon wayans c'mon!!
and of course, "how are YER doin?"
ok, now some responses. Offensive? how old are you? its not that serious.
anon3: thats whats fat women do..they jump on people. "happy presidents day!" youre lame
shut up frank, king's probably russian or something. Your logic is f*&%ed too. thats not scienth rasputia.
I dont know why, but it pisses me off when people talk sh&* about this movie. i honestly dont get it. some of the jokes are SO funny that you forget about the stupid shit. Like, the funny shit ever.
Key word: shit; right, haters? what-the-f#$%-ever. youre trippin. Go knit and watch MASH.
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pope sweet jesus Says:
May 21, 2008 at 07:26
i love this movie so much i have seen it 24 time it is the BEST EVER and i love Pope Sweet Jesus n Lord Have Mercy they r ssoooooooooooooooooo funny and HOT!!!!!!!!
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rasputia 8754397 Says:
September 13, 2008 at 18:55
How you doin, its rasputia, and im tellin you to rub my fat!!!!!!!!
NOW HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOW AAAAAAAAAAAARREEEEEEEEE YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAALLLLLLL DOOOOOOOINNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Screen formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
Subtitles: English; Spanish
Language and Sound: English: DTS 5.1 Surround; English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access.
- Commentary - Feature-length audio commentary featuring Sandler, director Frank Coraci, executive producer Tim Herilhy and writer Steve Koren.
- Featurettes -
- Deleted Scenes -
Number of discs: - 1- Keepcase Packaging
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Buy the DVD
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Buy the Soundtrack
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| Eddie Murphy |
.... |
Norbit/Rasputia/Mr. Wong |
| Thandie Newton |
.... |
Kate |
| Terry Crews |
.... |
Big Jack |
| Clifton Powell |
.... |
Earl |
| Mighty Rasta |
.... |
Blue (as Lester "Rasta" Speight) |
| Cuba Gooding Jr. |
.... |
Deion Hughes |
| Eddie Griffin |
.... |
Pope Sweet Jesus |
| Katt Williams |
.... |
Lord Have Mercy |
| Floyd Levine |
.... |
Abe the Tailor |
| Anthony Russell |
.... |
Giovanni |
| Pat Crawford Brown |
.... |
Mrs. Henderson |
| Jeanette Miller |
.... |
Mrs. Coleman |
| Michael Colyar |
.... |
Morris the Barber |
| Marlon Wayans |
.... |
Buster |
| Alexis Rhee |
.... |
Mrs. Ling Ling Wong |
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