Eddie Murphy is one hell of a great comedic talent. He excels at both physical and verbal comedy. The man has been part of nearly every genre imaginable and his next project is always hard to predict. Murphy rose to fame as a foul-mouthed action/comedy star who rose to excellence with films such as "Beverly Hills Cop" and "48 Hours." His comedy was well known, but he became a superstar with "Raw." After years of steady work, Murphy found some of his strongest success in Disney films and remakes of Disney classics. He became family friendly, but remained a very funny man. One thing Murphy has done frequently in his career is star in films that allow him to portray numerous characters in one film. He did so in "Coming From America" and found success in the "Nutty Professor" films as a number of Klumps. "Norbit" is the first time that Eddie Murphy received multiple billings on one of these projects and while the film is ultimately not very good, the veteran funnyman keeps it just barely afloat.
Murphy has three roles in "Norbit." He is the two principle characters, the nerdly Norbit and the gigantic and bitchy wife Rasputia. Murphy´s funniest character is that of Mr. Wong, an elderly Chinese man who operates an orphanage/Chinese restaurant and takes the ´ugly black baby´ in when Norbit is discarded as a toddler. Norbit is a horribly backwards young man who fits in with nobody, accept for the lovely young Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton). Kate and Norbit are separated as children when Kate is adopted and Norbit is forced to stay behind. Rasputia claims Norbit as her mate through the usage of force and intimidation, but she provides a semblance of acceptance for the misfit. Rasputia´s three brothers are local thugs who consistently threaten Norbit. When Kate returns to town, she has a con-man for a fiancé (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who teams up with the brothers to take control of the orphanage and create a topless bar.
Regardless of Murphy´s incredible ability to blend into fat suits and makeup and provide countless laughs, he is nearly sunk by a script that is just not very funny. Most of the humor surrounding Rasputia is visual by her tremendous and disturbing girth. She is bitchy and mean, not funny. You feel sorrier for the manner in which Norbit is treated than humored by the situations he finds himself in. Murphy is very good in all roles and the character of Norbit is a role he has yet to try. With Rasputia being repulsive and Norbit being a sorry sack of humiliation, this comedy has trouble generating and deep and long-lasting laughs. Only when the non-billed performance of Murphy´s is present on-screen does "Norbit" have a chance at tickling your funny bone. Sadly, Wong is a racist and stereotyped character that will certainly offend numerous groups of people.
The film is also horrible predictable. From the early moment when Wong hits a plywood whale in the "browhole," you know what the next "browhole" will be. The token misunderstanding and hard times between the two romantic characters in the film is a cardboard cutout of so many other films that you know Kate and Norbit are in for trouble before the scene occurs and it is easy to figure out what will bring them apart. Cuba Gooding Jr. is a damn good actor. Why can he no longer get good roles? Did "Boat Trip" sink his career forever? For all of the talent and charm of Eddie Murphy, there isn´t enough of him to save this film from failing; even with three major roles. Somehow, it has earned blockbuster dollars, and I am one hundred percent certain Mr. Murphy deserves each dollar, but everybody else involved with the project shouldn´t see a single wooden nickel.
Murphy has three roles in "Norbit." He is the two principle characters, the nerdly Norbit and the gigantic and bitchy wife Rasputia. Murphy´s funniest character is that of Mr. Wong, an elderly Chinese man who operates an orphanage/Chinese restaurant and takes the ´ugly black baby´ in when Norbit is discarded as a toddler. Norbit is a horribly backwards young man who fits in with nobody, accept for the lovely young Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton). Kate and Norbit are separated as children when Kate is adopted and Norbit is forced to stay behind. Rasputia claims Norbit as her mate through the usage of force and intimidation, but she provides a semblance of acceptance for the misfit. Rasputia´s three brothers are local thugs who consistently threaten Norbit. When Kate returns to town, she has a con-man for a fiancé (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who teams up with the brothers to take control of the orphanage and create a topless bar.
Regardless of Murphy´s incredible ability to blend into fat suits and makeup and provide countless laughs, he is nearly sunk by a script that is just not very funny. Most of the humor surrounding Rasputia is visual by her tremendous and disturbing girth. She is bitchy and mean, not funny. You feel sorrier for the manner in which Norbit is treated than humored by the situations he finds himself in. Murphy is very good in all roles and the character of Norbit is a role he has yet to try. With Rasputia being repulsive and Norbit being a sorry sack of humiliation, this comedy has trouble generating and deep and long-lasting laughs. Only when the non-billed performance of Murphy´s is present on-screen does "Norbit" have a chance at tickling your funny bone. Sadly, Wong is a racist and stereotyped character that will certainly offend numerous groups of people.
The film is also horrible predictable. From the early moment when Wong hits a plywood whale in the "browhole," you know what the next "browhole" will be. The token misunderstanding and hard times between the two romantic characters in the film is a cardboard cutout of so many other films that you know Kate and Norbit are in for trouble before the scene occurs and it is easy to figure out what will bring them apart. Cuba Gooding Jr. is a damn good actor. Why can he no longer get good roles? Did "Boat Trip" sink his career forever? For all of the talent and charm of Eddie Murphy, there isn´t enough of him to save this film from failing; even with three major roles. Somehow, it has earned blockbuster dollars, and I am one hundred percent certain Mr. Murphy deserves each dollar, but everybody else involved with the project shouldn´t see a single wooden nickel.
Eddie Murphy is one hell of a great comedic talent. He excels at both physical and verbal comedy. The man has been part of nearly every genre imaginable and his next project is always hard to predict. Murphy rose to fame as a foul-mouthed action/comedy star who rose to excellence with films such as "Beverly Hills Cop" and "48 Hours." His comedy was well known, but he became a superstar with "Raw." After years of steady work, Murphy found some of his strongest success in Disney films and remakes of Disney classics. He became family friendly, but remained a very funny man. One thing Murphy has done frequently in his career is star in films that allow him to portray numerous characters in one film. He did so in "Coming From America" and found success in the "Nutty Professor" films as a number of Klumps. "Norbit" is the first time that Eddie Murphy received multiple billings on one of these projects and while the film is ultimately not very good, the veteran funnyman keeps it just barely afloat.
Murphy has three roles in "Norbit." He is the two principle characters, the nerdly Norbit and the gigantic and bitchy wife Rasputia. Murphy´s funniest character is that of Mr. Wong, an elderly Chinese man who operates an orphanage/Chinese restaurant and takes the ´ugly black baby´ in when Norbit is discarded as a toddler. Norbit is a horribly backwards young man who fits in with nobody, accept for the lovely young Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton). Kate and Norbit are separated as children when Kate is adopted and Norbit is forced to stay behind. Rasputia claims Norbit as her mate through the usage of force and intimidation, but she provides a semblance of acceptance for the misfit. Rasputia´s three brothers are local thugs who consistently threaten Norbit. When Kate returns to town, she has a con-man for a fiancé (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who teams up with the brothers to take control of the orphanage and create a topless bar.
Regardless of Murphy´s incredible ability to blend into fat suits and makeup and provide countless laughs, he is nearly sunk by a script that is just not very funny. Most of the humor surrounding Rasputia is visual by her tremendous and disturbing girth. She is bitchy and mean, not funny. You feel sorrier for the manner in which Norbit is treated than humored by the situations he finds himself in. Murphy is very good in all roles and the character of Norbit is a role he has yet to try. With Rasputia being repulsive and Norbit being a sorry sack of humiliation, this comedy has trouble generating and deep and long-lasting laughs. Only when the non-billed performance of Murphy´s is present on-screen does "Norbit" have a chance at tickling your funny bone. Sadly, Wong is a racist and stereotyped character that will certainly offend numerous groups of people.
The film is also horrible predictable. From the early moment when Wong hits a plywood whale in the "browhole," you know what the next "browhole" will be. The token misunderstanding and hard times between the two romantic characters in the film is a cardboard cutout of so many other films that you know Kate and Norbit are in for trouble before the scene occurs and it is easy to figure out what will bring them apart. Cuba Gooding Jr. is a damn good actor. Why can he no longer get good roles? Did "Boat Trip" sink his career forever? For all of the talent and charm of Eddie Murphy, there isn´t enough of him to save this film from failing; even with three major roles. Somehow, it has earned blockbuster dollars, and I am one hundred percent certain Mr. Murphy deserves each dollar, but everybody else involved with the project shouldn´t see a single wooden nickel.
Murphy has three roles in "Norbit." He is the two principle characters, the nerdly Norbit and the gigantic and bitchy wife Rasputia. Murphy´s funniest character is that of Mr. Wong, an elderly Chinese man who operates an orphanage/Chinese restaurant and takes the ´ugly black baby´ in when Norbit is discarded as a toddler. Norbit is a horribly backwards young man who fits in with nobody, accept for the lovely young Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton). Kate and Norbit are separated as children when Kate is adopted and Norbit is forced to stay behind. Rasputia claims Norbit as her mate through the usage of force and intimidation, but she provides a semblance of acceptance for the misfit. Rasputia´s three brothers are local thugs who consistently threaten Norbit. When Kate returns to town, she has a con-man for a fiancé (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who teams up with the brothers to take control of the orphanage and create a topless bar.
Regardless of Murphy´s incredible ability to blend into fat suits and makeup and provide countless laughs, he is nearly sunk by a script that is just not very funny. Most of the humor surrounding Rasputia is visual by her tremendous and disturbing girth. She is bitchy and mean, not funny. You feel sorrier for the manner in which Norbit is treated than humored by the situations he finds himself in. Murphy is very good in all roles and the character of Norbit is a role he has yet to try. With Rasputia being repulsive and Norbit being a sorry sack of humiliation, this comedy has trouble generating and deep and long-lasting laughs. Only when the non-billed performance of Murphy´s is present on-screen does "Norbit" have a chance at tickling your funny bone. Sadly, Wong is a racist and stereotyped character that will certainly offend numerous groups of people.
The film is also horrible predictable. From the early moment when Wong hits a plywood whale in the "browhole," you know what the next "browhole" will be. The token misunderstanding and hard times between the two romantic characters in the film is a cardboard cutout of so many other films that you know Kate and Norbit are in for trouble before the scene occurs and it is easy to figure out what will bring them apart. Cuba Gooding Jr. is a damn good actor. Why can he no longer get good roles? Did "Boat Trip" sink his career forever? For all of the talent and charm of Eddie Murphy, there isn´t enough of him to save this film from failing; even with three major roles. Somehow, it has earned blockbuster dollars, and I am one hundred percent certain Mr. Murphy deserves each dollar, but everybody else involved with the project shouldn´t see a single wooden nickel.
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