Norbit Review
by Patiche (larts AT juno DOT com)March 16th, 2007
Written by : Jay Scherick (screenwriter)
Directed by : Brian Robbins
Genre : Comedy/Romance/ Love Triangle
Rated : PG-13
Running Time : 1HR 42 mins
Theatrical Release : February 9, 2007
Distributor : Dreamworks Films
The Cast : Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Charles Murphy, Eddie Griffin, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell
There is no doubt that Eddie Murphy is a very talented comedian and actor his work in "The Nutty Professor", "The Nutty Professor the Klumps" certainly cast his unlimited abilities to portray more than one character. I found the unique humorous and extraordinary make up, and set designs of the characters he skillfully portrays to be exciting, and executed in a wonderfully done format.
In Eddie Murphy's newest release "Norbit" we see another creation, and multiple characters portrayed by Eddie Murphy he brings on the same magical sets, design and make up with his additional characters to which he portrays Rasputia, Norbit's obese, mean spirited, unfaithful, and sassy wife, and Mr.Wong Norbit's adopted father. In this very funny and heart touching comedy Eddie Murphy portrays Norbit, an orphaned child who grows up into a nerdish man. Norbit is not just an ordinary comedy without a serious plot. Norbit also offers a very serious, and heart warming romantic story with an excellent ensemble of cast members such as Cuba Gooding Jr. and Thandie Newton
(Crash).
After watching "Norbit" I enjoyed it very much and I was very surprised at how good this movie is. While "Norbit" is a comedy that will make you laugh, and appreciate its heart warning story of charity, and romance "Norbit's" downfall is its horrible stereotypical images of the black women and obese people. When you get to down to the core of this movie, it honestly amounts to comedic ugly misrepresentation of who the black woman is and obesity. Rumor has it that Eddie Murphy's release of Norbit during Black History Month (February), an American month long tribute to the history of African Americans terribly hurt Eddie Murphy's chance of winning an Oscar for best supporting actor for his lead role in the Oscar award winning and box office hit, "Dreamgirls". Moreover, if you want to laugh and enjoy improvisation, and Eddie Murphy's multiple roles than you'll enjoy "Norbit."
In this movie, Norbit is an infant that's been abandoned by his parents when he tossed out of a car, and lands in front of an orphanage that own by an Asian husband and wife. Nobit is raised at the orphanage, and meets a cute little girl Kate they fall in love, and pretend to have a wedding. Later Norbit's childhood love gets adopted. Years later Norbit is now a full-grown boy of 10, and is always picked on by the bullies at school. Norbit meets another girl, a robust girl who can certainly hold her own, fighting, and beating every bully she encounters.
Many years later Norbit, an adult and his robust girlfriend, now a full-grown and obese sassy woman gets married. Life for Norbit and his new wife Rasputia is a bit challenging for Norbit. His new wife is much bigger, bossy, sassy, domineering, mean spirited, and unfaithful, holding Norbit emotionally captive. Later Norbit's child hood love, now a beautiful woman reappear in Norbit's life this time with her fiancée' a handsome, and slick deceitful man who holds a dark past of wife and child abandonment portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. Interesting enough, Norbit and his childhood love discover that they belong together but cannot be together because of their present romantic ties of marriage and engagement. Norbit's former love Kate wants to buy the Orphanage for a good cause but her fiancée and Norbit's wife and partners have other plans, they want to buy the Orphanage, and convert into a strip club. The battle goes on between the two sides of good and bad. Who gets the orphanage? Will Norbit, and his childhood girlfriend rekindle their relationship and get the orphanage? What happens to Norbit's wife? You'll find out when you see "Norbit."
Final Thoughts
"Norbit" is a very good movie, and one of Eddie Murphy's best movies released. His multiple portrayal of characters is well executed with excellent make up design, and sets. Eddie Murphy provides and excellent acting role. I enjoyed Eddie Murphy clean role as Norbit; he doesn't use profanity.
However, there is some profane dialog in the movie, but not too much. There is also some graphic and offensive sexual content in this movie that's not suitable for children. So Ignore the stereotypes of fat women, and misrepresentation of the black woman, and take "Norbit" for what it is- make believe comedy. Overall "Norbit" is a very good movie that offers a good plot, and heartwarming storyline. "Norbit" gets 3 stars.
Reviewed by Lisa Smith
(c)2007
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