Norbit (2007)

User Rating:

3.7/10   

Director:

Brian Robbins

Writers (WGA):

Eddie Murphy (screenplay) &
Charles Q. Murphy (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Have you ever made a really big mistake?

Plot:

A mild-mannered guy who is engaged to a monstrous woman meets the woman of his dreams, and schemes to find a way to be with her.

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Pimp | Domestic Violence | Water Slide | Hall

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong
Thandie Newton	...	Kate Thomas
Terry Crews	...	Big Jack Latimore
Clifton Powell	...	Earl Latimore
Lester Speight	...	Blue Latimore (as Lester 'Rasta' Speight)
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Deion Hughes
Eddie Griffin	...	Pope Sweet Jesus
Katt Williams	...	Lord Have Mercy
Floyd Levine	...	Abe the Tailor
Anthony Russell	...	Giovanni
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Mrs. Henderson
Jeanette Miller	...	Mrs. Coleman
Michael Colyar	...	Morris the Barber
Marlon Wayans	...	Buster
Alexis Rhee	...	Mrs. Ling Ling Wong

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, some nudity and language. (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

USA:102 min | Philippines:101 min | Argentina:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12A | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | Netherlands:6 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Germany:12 | Malaysia:U | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:15A | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Agoura, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

In the USA was originally rated R but was reduced to PG-13 on appeal.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Italian restaurant, the door behind Rasputia alternates from slightly open to completely shut between shots.

Quotes:

Rasputia: Go over and get another wine cooler. It's hot as hell out here. Don't you see I'm sweltering?
Norbit: Rasputia, you can't drink wine.
Rasputia: Why the hell not?
Norbit: You're with child.
Rasputia: With child? I ain't with no... Oh. Oh, that was... I had gas. I still got it.
Rasputia: [farts] There's your child. Now go get me something to drink.
Rasputia: [farts again] Twins!

Movie Connections:

References Riverdance: The Show (1995)

Soundtrack:

Between the Sheets

Poor Black Trash

As a self confessed intelligent black male watching this I felt nothing but disgust and vitriol for it. I was left pondering the question why are people still making dreck like this and flogging it to the masses.

All this movie does is sell the same old stereotypes in the same old package; I found some other reviews on here rather poignant when they describe the movie as misogynistic and anti-fat because the reality is it's also anti black.

It's hard to tell which parts are deliberate and which aren't but is there any doubting that the least vile and offensive characters are the least "black" or at least what this movie tries to indicate as black. Mainly you have a light skinned Thandie Newton who's dodges all stereotypes and effectively is the films protagonist.

Then you get on to the cringe worthy elements such as Rasputia who is possibly the most horrid representation of a black woman you'll ever see fat, lazy, aggressive and just plain stupid. Added to this you have horribly over used stereotypes where you almost could imagine the writers deliberating over shall we have the food theme as BBQ Ribs or fried chicken just pathetic. The conclusion at the end with the pimps (Eddie Griffin) in church is just horrendous as well. Whilst the final insult is the unveiling of Cuba Gooding Jr's character to have a string of children to different mothers.

The worst thing is Eddie Murphy has made a living out of the promoting the black stereotypes obesity, promiscuity, and criminality you name it yet producers will still allow him to make this trash as the ill informed will always just see this garbage for all the wrong reasons.

I am still waiting for a Black American Beauty something that is sharp, witty and mildly challenging, Eddie Murphy needs to realise that this stuff was just about acceptable 10-15 years ago, now its nothing short of banal.