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2007
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NORBIT
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STARRING:EDDIE
MURPHY,THANDIE NEWTON,CUNA GOODING JR.,TERRY CREWS,CLIFTON POWELL,MIGHTY
RASTA,EDDIE GRIFFIN,KATT WILLIAMS,MARLON WAYANS
STORY
BY EDDIE MURPHY & CHARLES MURPHY
SCREENPLAY
BY EDDIE MURPHY,CHARES MURPHY,JAY SCHERICK & DAVID RONN
PRODUCED
BY JOHN DAVIS,EDDIE MURPHY & MICHAEL TOLLIN
DIRECTED
BY BRIAN ROBBINS
GENRE:COMEDY/ROMANCE
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12A/USA:PG-13
RUNNING
TIME:102 MIN
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Norbit
(Eddie Murphy) is an orphan who was raised by Mr. Wong (Eddie Murphy)
the owner of restaurant/orphanage "The Golden Wanton". There
he meets Rasputia (once again, Eddie Murphy) a much bigger girl who
claims Norbit as her own. Afraid to leave her due to the repercussions
he will receive from Rasputia and her gangster brothers, they stay
together and get married. Now stuck in a domestic hell with a grossly
overweight, domineeringly violent adulterer (you know, the type you
see on Jerry Springer), the mild mannered Norbit must find a way to
get away from Rasputia and be with the girl of his dreams, an old
childhood friend named Kate (Thandie Newton).
Norbit is an over the top, clichéd mess which showcases
new lows for Eddie Murphy, Eddie Griffin, Marlon Wayans and Cuba Gooding
Jr. (which breaks my heart since I believe he is an actor of great
talent who is pissing his career away). Every character is nothing
more than a stereotype; Norbit, the geek with a heart of gold but
no courage; Rasputia, the big, mad, black woman prone to violent outbursts;
Kate, a beautiful, independent woman who doesn't know that her fiancé
Dion is a multiple cheat after her money. Pimps are in full gear,
gang bangers all intimidating and wild eyed.
Now although Murphy has excelled in playing multiple roles (as seen
in Coming to America and The Nutty Professor),
this time out he fails miserably as the script just does not match
his obvious comedic talent. I have a feeling that Murphy and his co-writers
felt that if the material doesn't come up to snuff (which it doesn't)
than the use of gross out humour and racial and social caricatures
will fill the void (which, again it doesn't). The only thing going
for it is the casting of Thandie Newton who is a fine actress which
the camera obviously loves. Unfortunately she is wasted which is very
disappointing since (like the before mentioned Gooding Jr.) I am a
fan.
The bottom line is Norbit is just not funny. Bland, dull, and
offensive are how I would describe it, but above all it was a complete
waste of time. |
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