"Norbit" (DreamWorks)
Eddie Murphy’s Latest Career Blunder
Eddie Murphy is nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in “Dreamgirls.” He is favored to win. However if any member of the voting academy got a glimpse of him in his latest release “Norbit” they would strike through his name at once. Any nominee who puts himself and his talent in such a messed up movie as this one doesn’t deserve serious consideration.
Murphy takes three roles in the movie and he also co-produced and co-wrote the film. His name is all over it so he has to share the blame for it being such a lifeless embarrassment. The humor is crude and the acting is trivial. Not only does he embarrass himself, he also drags down the good names of Thandie Newton and Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Norbit (Murphy) is an orphan. He lives at an orphanage run by Mr. Wong (Murphy). His life is pretty miserable because all the other kids tease and taunt him, but that all changes when he becomes friends with Rasputia (Murphy) a huge girl who strikes fear in any and all who cross her path.
When Norbit and Rasputia grow up they get married, even though in his heart Norbit still longs for his first love Kate (Newton). One day Kate moves back to town to take over the orphanage where she was raised. The sparks fly between Norbit and Kate again but he is married and she is engaged to a con man named Deion (Gooding). It seems there is no way they can be together.
This is a skimpy plot to begin with and so the moviemakers just add on one crude joke or situation after another. Some of them are sexual, some of them have to do with body functions, and all of them are offensive. This is especially true since the movie is rated PG-13 and kids are flocking to see the film.
Eddie Murphy is a very talented man. He can act, he can sing, he can do it all. His role in “Dreamgirls” seemed to indicate he was ready to take acting and his career seriously but “Norbit” is definitely a step backwards – a big step backwards!
Because of Eddie Murphy’s name people will go to see this film initially, but hopefully word of mouth will slow down the attendance, especially that of children. This is not a movie they should see and parents should be aware of that fact.
I had been pulling for Murphy to win the Oscar but not now. My allegiance has switched to Djimon Honsou for “Blood Diamond” or Jackie Earle Haley for “Little Children.”
I scored “Norbit” a triple acted 2 out of 10.
