Norbit

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Norbit

Theatrical one-sheet poster for Norbit.
Produced by John Davis
Mike Tollin
Eddie Murphy
Written by Eddie Murphy (also story)
Charlie Murphy (also story)
Jay Scherick
David Ronn
Starring Eddie Murphy
Thandie Newton
Terry Crews
Clifton Powell
Lester "Rasta" Speight
Eddie Griffin
Katt Williams
Marlon Wayans
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Music by David Newman
Cinematography J. Clark Mathis
Editing by Ned Bastille
Distributed by DreamWorks
Release date(s) February 9, 2007 (US)
March 9, 2007 (EU)
Running time 102 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $60,000,000
Gross revenue $159,313,561

Norbit is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy and Thandie Newton. Produced by Davis Entertainment and Tollin/Robbins Productions, the film also stars Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, Lester "Rasta" Speight, Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams, Marlon Wayans, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.. It was released by DreamWorks Pictures through Paramount Pictures on February 9, 2007.

Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji received an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup[1], though garnering many nominations and wins at the 2007 Golden Raspberry Awards.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Norbit Albert Rice (Eddie Murphy) and Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton), were best of friends in an orphanage as children owned by their father figure Mr. Wong, but were separated when Kate was adopted. Norbit then meets Rasputia Latimore (Eddie Murphy), a morbidly obese, self-centered, overbearing, vain girl who makes Norbit her boyfriend. As they both grow up, Rasputia dominates every aspect of Norbit's life and they eventually marry. Rasputia mistreats, insults and dominates Norbit to ensure that she keeps him to herself.

Years later Norbit is performing a puppet show for the children at the orphanage when he sees Kate for the first time in years. Stunned by her, his affection for her returns. He is disappointed to find out that she is engaged to Deion Hughes (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a sneaky, slick-talking businessman.

Rasputia finds out about Norbit and Kate's affection for each other and tries to prevent Norbit from talking to her. Things become more complicated when Norbit uncovers a plan by the brothers, who wish to purchase their former orphanage to open up a strip club. Norbit escapes his confinement in the basement, and races to the church where Deion and Kate are to be married. Norbit reveals that Deion has gotten rich off of divorce settlements, and only marries women for their money. Deion flees, and the Latimores attack Norbit.

Just as the brothers prepare to kill Norbit, the townspeople arrive, who have all taken arms to defend Norbit and get revenge on the Latimores. Rasputia fights her way through the crowd, and ust when it looks like Rasputia is unstoppable, she is harpooned in the rear by Mr. Wong. She is chased out of town with her brothers, who are now being chased by the mob of townspeople.

Kate and Norbit buy the orphanage and get married under the tree that they once played as children. Rasputia and her brothers move to Mexico and open up the "El Nipplopolis" with Rasputia, who has become their most popular and lucrative stripper.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Reception

[edit] Critical response

Reviews are overwhelmingly negative. Review aggregate website RottenTomatoes gave the film a score of 9%, based on 10 fresh reviews out of 116, and selected top critics giving it a combined score of only 4%. The consensus described Norbit as "a cruel, crass, stereotype-filled comedy that's more depressing than funny".[2] Metacritic gave the film a score of 27 based on 26 reviews which were generally unfavorable.[3]

[edit] Box office

Despite being critically slated the film was a success at the box office. The movie opened to $34.2 million in the United States and was Murphy's 14th #1 box office opener.[4] Norbit has grossed $95.7 million in North America and $63.6 million overseas for a total of $159.3 million worldwide, in comparison to its $65 million production cost.

[edit] Home media

Norbit was released on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, and HD DVD on June 5, 2007. Since HD DVD is discontinued, Norbit is remains available on Blu-ray and DVD.

[edit] Rating

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) originally gave the film an R rating. Shortly after, the film was given a PG-13 on appeal. 

[edit] Soundtrack

The soundtrack for the film was released on February 6, 2007.[5][6]

  1. Standing in the Safety Zone - The Fairfield Four
  2. It's Goin' Down - Yung Joc
  3. You Did - Kate Earl featuring The Designated Hitters
  4. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield
  5. My Milkshake - Kelis
  6. Shoppin' For Clothes - The Coasters
  7. Walk It Out - Unk
  8. Looking For You - Kirk Franklin
  9. Sweet Honey - Slightly Stoopid
  10. The Hands Of Time - Perfect Circle

[edit] Additional tracks

Additional tracks are not included on the album and only available as downloads.

  1. Young Norbit - David Newman
  2. Queen Of Whores - David Newman
  3. Kate Returns/Tuesday, Tuesday - David Newman
  4. Norbit Sneaks Out - David Newman
  5. Rasputia's Fury - David Newman
  6. Norbit And Kate - David Newman

Don't Cha performed by The Pussycat Dolls was used in the film but does not appear on the soundtrack album.

[edit] Awards

The film was nominated for 8 Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture, and won 3 awards all for Eddie Murphy as three different characters.[7]

[edit] Golden Raspberry Awards

  • Worst Picture
  • Worst Director
  • Worst Actor (Eddie Murphy; as Norbit)
  • Worst Actor (Cuba Gooding, Jr.)
  • Worst Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy; as Mr. Wong)
  • Worst Supporting Actress (Eddie Murphy; as Rasputia)
  • Worst Screenplay
  • Worst Screen Couple (Eddie Murphy and either Eddie Murphy or Eddie Murphy)

[edit] Academy awards

  • Best Makeup (nominated)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Academy Award Nominations
  2. ^ Norbit at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2009-11-11.
  3. ^ Norbit at Metacritic
  4. ^ The Hollywood Reporter Nicole Sperling, February 12, 2007
  5. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Norbit-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000MGTF9O
  6. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3cfrxqwrldde
  7. ^ http://www.razzies.com/history/07winners.asp Norbit gains 3 wins at Razzies

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Brian Robbins
1990s
The Show (1995) · Good Burger (1997) · Varsity Blues (1999)
2000s
Ready to Rumble (2000) · Hardball (2001) · The Perfect Score (2004) · The Shaggy Dog (2006) · Norbit (2007) · Meet Dave (2008)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbit"