Chew the Fat Regarding NORBIT

Norbit's now an Oscar nominee for makeup and I think it is for the pool scene:

Pool Guard: "Are you even wearing bottoms?"

Rasputia: "Of course I'm wearing bottoms" (Murphy pulls up fat to reveal bikini bottom)  

Now we can refer to this piece of crap as "The Academy Award nominated film, Norbit"

Having recently watched this film, I can sum it up in a single sentence: "Gee, Eddie Murphy is sure bitter about his divorce, huh?" This is the sole driving conflict of the entire movie. Norbit had married the wrong woman and he need to grow some stones and get out of it, somehow.

Personally, I would have given Murphy a nod for worst actress, not supporting actress. Rasputia is arguably a larger (hee) character than little miss what's-her-name who plays the "nice" girl and has more screen time to boot.

I believe Roeper mentioned that the filmmakers did not like Rasputia and wanted to make sure we didn't either. This was nakedly obvious in the scene where she attempts to run over the neighbor's dog. It is so unnecessary and so mean, we do hate. Not Rasputia, but the morons who made this movie. There was simply no reason for it. We already disliked Rasputia pretty much because Eddie Murphy plays her as someone with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. This scene just hits us over the head with the whole thing. Frankly, it wouldn't have phased me if neighborhood children were disappearing and Norbit questions Rasputia about some strange meat in their fridge.

In fact, that might have been a step toward good for this movie. Well, not good, but at least it would have moved away from the hackneyed cliche the plot followed so closely, pausing only momentarily to tell fat jokes.

One little clever bit I rather liked was when the injured dog tells a befuddled Norbit to kill Rasputia. I suddenly started thinking about a movie that starts her and then the bulk of the picture would be Norbit making various attempts on Rasputia's life, but she refuses to die, like Wile E. Coyote. I would have liked that movie. At least it was better than the movie we got. It can't be a good thing if a movie gives you ideas for a different yet better movie.

Incidentally, even the talking dog bit couldn't be left well enough alone and the dog had to talk about crude things, like lifting his leg and such.

In the end, the story was a big mass of cliche, dressed up with crude humor that David Chappelle would have called tasteless and refused to do. Maybe if the Murphys had actually put some time into a storyline, this movie would have worked, despite the fat and racial jokes. Maybe if they had given Rasputia a reason to even want Norbit around, as there seems to be no reason. (Sure she preys on his weakness, but since she's an inhuman monster, everyone is weak compared to her. She could be victimizing someone better-looking.) Maybe if we didn't get the obvious love story and went somewhere not so obvious. (Hope I didn't spoil the movie for you, but if I did, how does a five-year-old reach the keyboard?) Maybe if Murphy had gone deeper with the script as an allegory for his failed marriage. Maybe not, but a more personal story would have been refreshing compared to this claptrap.

No, trust me. Norbit's make up was very good. It almost seemed flawless (well, except for Mr. Wong). White Chicks was bad. However, I loved that movie because it was hilarious.

As bad a film as NORBIT is, they really did nail Rasputia's make-up.

It isn't as if this is the kind of film the Oscars recognize to make themselves look distinguished.

Originally posted by cvcjr13 Originally posted by moviewizguy No, trust me. Norbit's make up was very good. It almost seemed flawless (well, except for Mr. Wong). White Chicks was bad. However, I loved that movie because it was hilarious. Ugh.  Watching White Chicks felt like pulling teeth with no novocaine.

                                                                                          Actually, "White Chicks" felt like that scene in "Cast Away" were Tom Hanks gets rid of a tooth with an ice skate and a coconut.

3 wins by Eddie Murphy. That adds up to 4 wins, counting the one he won for HARLEM NIGHTS.

Originally posted by SchumacherH8ter This made "Epic Movie" look good!

Hell no it didn't; at least I smirked a few times watching it and I actually
liked the Thandie Newton character; Epic Movie had no ambitions or laughs,
I wouldn't be able to feel a chainsaw going up my ass watching Epic Movie,
cuz the movie was incomparably worse.