by Thomas Ferguson

Fresh off the heels of a career comeback performance and Oscar-nominated turn in Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy should be riding high. Unfortunately, he must have been legally high when he agreed to helm the new comedy Norbit.

Murphy plays Norbit, a weak and nerdy guy who just wants to be noticed and loved. Unfortunately, he is married to a violent monster of a woman named Rasputia (also Eddie Murphy), who won’t allow him to live his life like a real man. She yells at him like he’s a child and she beats him like she’s Ike Turner.

An old friend named Kate (Thandie Newton) comes back into his life and rekindles old feelings the two shared when they were orphan buddies at the town orphanage. Of course, Rasputia is not having it. She tries everything she can to keep the two apart, but the more she tries, the closer they get.

I went into this movie with an open mind. I love Eddie Murphy and I love seeing him bring his career up from a brief slump. That being said, the trailer for this movie just conjured up feelings of disbelief. I couldn’t believe he was putting on the old fat suit again. Those jokes were funny in the Klump movies, but how long can you squeeze water from a dry towel?

Norbit is just one of those movies that leave you confused. It was somewhat funny in some sections, but the huge laughs were few and far between. How can you keep laughing at refried jokes and stereotypes that just make you feel embarrassed for the actors on screen?

For example, you have two pimps (Eddie Griffin and Kat Williams) who own a rib joint and use their hookers to sell the food. Both these guys are funny comedians, but these roles were clownish. Speaking of clowns, Marlon Wayans gives a career worst performance as a tap dancing guru with not only a jheri curl, but a jheri curl with a rat tail—topped off with a nasty gold tooth. It was like Soul Plane without the plane.

Eddie Murphy played multiple characters again and each more annoying than the next. This movie was full of dumb jokes and characters you don’t care about. One bright spot was the make up effects. Rick Baker has outdone himself once again creating the most life like body for Rasputia.

Norbit has a good beginning and a good ending, but the meat in between this cinematic sandwich was down right rotten.