Norbit (Full Screen)
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Movie Reviews of Norbit (Full Screen)
Movie Review: Forrest Gump Meets Jerry Lewis in a Farce Spotlighting a Funny Murphy Triple Play
Summary: 3 Stars
It's too bad that the daggers have come flying against Eddie Murphy for this 2007 farce because he is masterfully funny in no less than three roles here. Resuscitating an even dimmer variation of the good-natured goofus he played in 1999's clever "Bowfinger", Murphy plays the title character, a compliant loser left as a baby on the doorstep of a roadside Chinese restaurant owned by a curmudgeon named Mr. Chow, also played by Murphy with more of a pan-Asian accent under a convincing veneer of latex.
As a child, he falls in love with fellow orphan Kate, but she gets adopted and moves away. That's when Rasputia enters the picture. A mean-spirited overweight girl, she bullies Norbit to go steady with her, and he ends up miserably marrying her when they both grow up. And if you don't know already, Murphy, under a humungous fat latex suit, also plays Rasputia. Kate comes back to town as a comely woman with the idea of buying Mr. Chow's restaurant and turning it into an orphanage. The inevitable romantic complications occur, as well as a silly, threadbare plot involving Rasputia's musclebound brothers, Kate's smooth-talking fiancé Deion and turning Mr. Chow's place into a strip club.
None of the plot contrivances really interfere with the parade of sight gags, mostly at the expense of Rasputia, whether she accuses Norbit of adjusting her car seat forward or wears a disappearing bikini at the water park. Based on a YouTube video they saw where a large woman beats down her smaller-sized husband in front of the neighbors, Murphy with his brother Charles developed a story fleshed out by comedy screenwriters Jay Scherick and David Ronn, and the resulting script meanders quite a bit, especially with the strip club subplot and the various ensuing love triangles. Much of it is vulgar and tasteless, but when the story focuses on Murphy's antics and one-liners, it's often hilarious and surprisingly self-aware of its own insensitivities. What's left of the plot goes into incredulous overdrive at the end, but it certainly doesn't lose its spirit.
With the childhood vignettes at the beginning, I was expecting a Forrest Gump-like epic of a savant, but it quickly turns formulaic and situation-driven, which is what ultimately prevents the film from being great. Brian Robbins' direction is pedestrian at best, but his sitcom-based sensibilities seem to work within the dimensions of Murphy's broad style. A dewy-eyed Thandie Newton is engaging as Kate, but Cuba Gooding Jr. is wasted as Deion since he is developed as a mere plot device. Eddie Griffin and Kat Williams manage some funny moments as a couple of pimps-turned-rib joint owners, especially in the finale, and Marlon Wayans turns up as a flamboyant tap dance instructor manipulating Rasputia for her money. A lot of credit needs to be given to Rick Baker for his impressive make-up work on Murphy since he convincingly crosses genders and races here. But the lion's share of praise belongs to Murphy, who combines Jerry Lewis' manic comic energy with his own stand-up ribaldry. The result will likely offend non-fans.
Movie Review: Phat
Summary: 3 Stars
How YOU doin'? It's a funny line even if they did steal it from Joey from Friends.
When I watch a comedy, the only requirement I have is that it be funny. That's it. I'm not one of those intellectual movie snobs who think only "comedies" like Dr. Strangelove is worthy of my time.
The story of Norbit was a very interesting one that kept my attention the entire time; and it made me laugh. Therefore, Norbit is a success.
The film is not perfect by any means. I question the casting choice of Thandie Newton, and you also can't help but see Eddie Murphy as recycling his past roles from The Nutty Professor. Murphy is coasting at this point in his career. Of course, he no longer has anything else to prove. He did enough good things in the 80s to last him a lifetime: although, I do wonder where that Eddie Murphy went.
We can't discuss Norbit without discussing the thing that many find offensive: the portrayal of the overweight character as evil and the thin, "beautiful woman" as good. Well, it was Rasputia's attitude that made her the bad guy, not her size. But then, some people ask, why make her fat at all if it's only about her attitude. Well, it's simple; Rasputia uses her size to intimidate people. I find it very hard to believe that a tiny woman like say, Toni Braxton, could have instilled fear in those around her the way Rasputia did. And it's her meanness and ability to physically intimidate people that acts as the essential part of humor for her character and the film.
I also have to give a shout out to Marlon Wayans. I had no idea he played Buster until the end credits. I'm starting to believe he is the most talented Wayans. He does comedy better than Damon, and he can do drama better than, well Damon.
If the movie is a little too mean spirited for you, and you want to see the big girl get the guy rather than lose him, I recommend Shallow Hal.
Movie Review: Bad...Yet Entertaining
Summary: 3 Stars
With all the awful reviews I've seen, I figured this would be a terrible movie. I was bored and figured I'd rent it and I laughed more than I expected to. I mean critics like Richard Roeper made it sound like the movie was a total dud. I admit that yes it is a bad movie though but....an entertaining bad movie. The make-up for the characters for one is bad. Just like with the Wayne Brothers in White Chicks, Rasputia looks more like a monster than she looks like an humanbeing. I can't really picture anyone that looks like Norbit either. He looks a little like Bill Cosby but with an alien shaped head.
Also the fact that Rasputia also acts like a monster can take the fun out of the movie. There's not a charming thing about her and she's shown way too much. She's mean and scary and it's hard to sit through watching this woman get her way through most the movie. But in a way that also works since this woman is so horrible that it makes you root for Norbit to toughen up and not take it any more. Eddie Murphy doesn't give his best performance at all as Norbit or Rasputia but his performance as Mr. Wong is a little clever I admit. As Norbit he's just pretty weird and his voice is similar to Jimmy from South Park. Yet he still manages to be a little likeable since you feel for him for having to be married to the most evil heavy woman ever. There's parts where I was thinking "this movie is awful" but there's also enough scenes where I was thinking "this movie isn't that bad and is funnier than I expected".
Movie Review: thandiwe saves the day
Summary: 3 Stars
despite the critics i loved this film.i wish clean flicks was still around to edit out the senseless don imus humor of the two pimps(eddie griffin and scat williams) and the crude banter of shawn wayans. with them removed this is the cute family film its trailer advertised.what saves the movie is the cute portralal of kate(thandie newton-real first name thandiwe).rare these days do we see a portrayal of the really good girl as kate is.the romance between kate and norbit is what makes the movie great. omitting the cruity we have a 5 star film. in real relationships of the abusive wife and the henpecked husband. the abusive wife sees her husband as a 'norbit' type.the abused husband sees his wife as a 'rasputia' type. this extreme portrayal is what makes the movie fun.but once thandiwe appears the film becomes a beautiful innocent love story in ahumorous setting.in these days of relationships based on materialism and self-fulfillment, this is a welcome breath of fresh air in its innocence and sweetness. no one could play kate better than thandiwe. see the film as i see it and you'll love it. p.s. the oscars are a sham--eddie murphy should not be denied because the critics did not like this movie. why wasn't 'apocalypto' nominated for best picture.mccarthyism is back in hollywood as the powers that be have blacklisted mel gibson for not subscribing to their peer- pressure tactics!Movie Review: How You Doin!?!?
Summary: 3 Stars
Oh man I had a ball with this one. Yes it was panned by the critics but I found it to be genuinely funny at times. Raspustia was such an over the top character, she couldn't help but make me laugh. Her scene with Marlon Wayons at the gym and then afterwards when Norbit catches them at home was hysterical. The gorgeous and classy Thandie Newton was a delight, and certainly easy on the eyes.
Was it a great movie, no. Was it one of Eddie's best, not by a long shot. Would it make a welcome addition to your Eddie Murphy libary, absolutely. It's funny, light hearted stuff not to be taken seriously in the least. Approach it with that frame of mind and you'll be fine. I would own it just for Eddie's portrayl of Rasputia and Mr Wong alone. Talk about amazing makeup work by Mr. Baker.