Norbit (2007)

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:

Critically Bashed | Restaurant | Courage | Obnoxious | Lollipop

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Aug. 1	6:15 PM	MAX
Sat. Aug. 2	1:30 AM	MAX
Tue. Aug. 5	9:45 AM	MAX

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong
Thandie Newton	...	Kate Thomas
Terry Crews	...	Big Jack Latimore
Clifton Powell	...	Earl Latimore
Mighty Rasta	...	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:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Agoura, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

For security purposes, early prints were shipped under the title 'Jupiter', an apparent allusion to 'Eddie Murphy' 's film The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Norbit crashes his bike, he has a leaf in his hair. While he is talking to Kate, the leaf appears and disappears.

Quotes:

Rasputia: [singing along with the radio] Don't you wish your girlfriend was as hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a FREAK like me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Stargate: Atlantis: Midway (#4.17)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

My God Called Me This Morning

Not his best, but not his worst either

Yes, the movie is racist and politically incorrect, but you know what? I think many people are offended because they miss the point. Brian Robbins and Eddie Murphy would be stupid to make a racist movie -- instead, they are making fun of it. Anyone who has seen a South Park episode would understand "satire" instead of calling it racist, homophobic, or whatever. I think that's what Eddie Murphy was trying to do here -- to poke fun at our own prejudices.

As a film, Norbit only succeeds halfway. It has some hilarious moments, but the film is unfocused and inconsistent. The script is bad, but I guess if you're used to comedies like Epic Movies, you'll be okay with bad comedy scripts. The stereotypes are so blatant and obvious that they are funny. When Mr. Wong (Murphy) said, "Of course I am racist!" he had a point. In a way, we are all prejudiced; we just don't want to admit to it.

Judging from the reaction of a packed theater on a Sunday night (blacks, whites, Asians, men, women, thin people, overweight people), I think people can have a good time with this one if they put aside their political correctness. It's just another crude, raunchy, silly comedy. And Eddie Murphy is funny as hell.