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Norbit DVD Review

Eddie Murphy plays three roles in Norbit.

Courtesy of Paramount

Eddie Murphy is well known for playing multiple characters in movies like The Nutty Professor and Coming to America, and he's back at it again in Norbit. Does he still have what it takes to be everything to everyone?

Norbit - Bad Beginnings

When baby Norbit is dumped at an orphanage/Chinese restaurant run by Mr. Wong, he bonds with fellow orphan Kate. But after Kate is adopted, Norbit finds himself alone and bullied. He's rescued when a chubby young girl named Rasputia decides that she's Norbit's girlfriend (whether he likes it or not).

Norbit - Multiple Personalities

Norbit (Eddie Murphy) and Rasputia (Eddie Murphy) eventually get married, despite Mr. Wong's (Eddie Murphy - sensing a pattern here?) disapproval. But things aren't happily ever after for the two. Poor meek, dim-witted Norbit is stuck in a relationship with the demanding and bossy Rasputia, and he begins to sink into depression. But things look up when Kate (Thandie Newton) returns to town in the hopes of taking over the orphanage. Norbit still loves her but he's married and Kate has a fiancée (Cuba Gooding, Jr.).

Norbit - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

There are two kinds of people in this movie - good people and bad people. No one is that complicated because then we might not cheer on Norbit and Kate to get together, right? So Rasputia's two brothers and Kate's fiancée get involved in an underhanded scheme to turn the orphanage into a strip club (fun for the whole family? We think not!). But will Kate and Norbit rekindle their schoolyard crush? Can they save the orphanage? Do you actually care?

Norbit - DVD Features

If special effects make-up is your thing, the Norbit DVD will definitely interest you. With Eddie Murphy suiting up to play three very different characters, the make-up team really had to pull out all the stops - and you get to see how with the DVD extras. Also be sure to check out the deleted scenes and Marlon Wayans mock-infomercial for extra laughs.

Norbit - The Bottom Line

Eddie Murphy is a talented physical comedian and the costumes/make-up in Norbit are truly amazing. That said, Norbit is full of really negative humor about women, relationships and steps across the line from humor to racism on more than one occasion. Sure, it might squeeze a laugh or two out of you with its fart-jokes and talking dogs, but you'll be left feeling kind of violated when it's over. If you really must see Eddie Murphy as a fat lady, rent The Nutty Professor and give Norbit a miss.