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Norbit (2007)

Director: Brian Robbins

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Synopsis

A mild-mannered geek plots to leave his nightmare wife when he falls in love with another.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Eddie Murphy is dweeby orphan Norbit, raised by Mr Wong (also Murphy). His loneliness throws him into the ample arms of bossy-boots Rasputia (a fat-suited Murphy), but when childhood sweetheart Kate (Thandie Newton) returns to town, Norbit realises his marriage is a sham and attempts to wriggle out of Rasputia’s firm grasp. Meanwhile, Kate is being hustled by her fiancé Deion (Cuba Gooding Jr), who’s after her cash. The nominal plot and characterisation are sidelined for a string of ‘comic’ set-pieces almost exclusively at the expense of Rasputia’s size. Labelled a monster simply because she is fat (her controlling nature seems like an afterthought), we’re asked to laugh at Rasputia’s difficulty squeezing into small spaces while reeling in horror at her criticism of rival Kate’s tiny frame. Even if you go back decades, body fascism has rarely been so brazen, or so unfunny. Horrifying.

Author: Anna Smith 2007-03-06 10:19:34

Time Out London Issue 1907: March 7-13 2007