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There's nothing funny about 'Norbit'
"Norbit" Running Time: 100 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13
 | | In Eddie Murphy's latest film, "Norbit," Murphy stars as the title character - a Steve Urkel rip-off with a bad afro. |
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Can you remember a time when Eddie Murphy was funny?
If so, you'd have to be over 30, because you'd have to go back to the days of "Delirious," "Raw," "Trading Places" and "Beverly Hills Cop" to find a movie where Eddie made you bust a gut with laughter. In the past few decades, all we've gotten from him is phoned-in performances and witless caricatures.
"Norbit" is a prime example of this, and probably the worst film Eddie's ever made. Yes, it's even worse than "Pluto Nash."
In "Norbit," Murphy plays a guy named Norbit, who is basically Steve Urkel with a bad fro. He grew up in a Chinese restaurant that doubled as an orphanage. I'll repeat that: A Chinese restaurant that doubled as an orphanage. Sure it makes no sense, but it gives Murphy a chance to don yellowface and give an offensive performance as an Asian man the likes of which we haven't seen since Jerry Lewis did it in the 1950s.
While at the orphanage, young Norbit falls in love with Kate. Their romance is cut short when she is adopted and moves away. Norbit then meets Rasputia, a morbidly obese girl with all the social graces of a rabid gorilla. She latches onto Norbit, and when they grow up, she forces him to marry her.
Years later, Kate (Thandie Newton) returns to buy the restaurant/orphanage, but her plans are undermined by her con man fiance (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Rasputia's three gangster brothers who want to turn the property into a strip club. It's now up to Norbit to save the orphanage.
There is nothing redeeming or funny about "Norbit." I can't recommend it -- not even as a rental. If you're in the mood for a great Eddie Murphy movie, rent one of the films I mentioned above.
GRADE: F (c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.
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