From 1988’s “Coming to America” to his recent movie release “Norbit,” Eddie Murphy has proven that he is a master at playing multiple roles in addition to his main character.
Murphy made audiences fall in love with the sensitive over weight character, Sherman, in his 2000 remake “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.” Now, seven years later, Murphy allows audiences to meet his nerdy and meek character Norbit.
The story of Norbit begins with his childhood as an orphan. He and other orphans are raised by Mr. Wong (Eddie Murphy) at Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage.
At the orphanage Norbit falls in love with a beautiful little girl named Kate (Thandie Newton). They become best friends and playmates. Norbit’s world changes when Kate is adopted and moves away.
Norbit’s nerdy persona, thick glasses and rounded afro, landed him no friends and made him a target for bullies. One day while Norbit was getting beaten up by playground bullies, Rasputia (Eddie Murphy) comes to his rescue.
Rasputia and Norbit grow up and get married. Norbit is often treated badly by Rasputia and her brothers, but becomes apart of her family and the family business, Latimore Construction Company.
Norbit’s world changes when his childhood friend Kate returns to town and plans to buy the orphanage from Mr. Wong. Kate’s presence helps Norbit realize that he doesn’t really love Rasputia and that he still has feelings for Kate.
In Norbit’s pursuit of Kate, Kate’s fiancé Deion (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), Rasputia, and her brothers get in his way. In the end Norbit wins Kate’s heart.
The creative minds of Eddie and Charles Murphy along with director Brian Robbins have produced one of the funniest movies of 2007, thus far. Norbit, the main character, is humorous from his appearance and the sound of his voice to the timid ness and naive ness of his personality.
Rasputia amuses with her cocky dominating attitude and her now famous statement “How you doin’?”
It is sad that the funniest parts of the movie plays on the fact that she is overweight. Murphy allowed the audience to sympathize with overweight Sherman in “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps,” but in “Norbit” he makes being overweight the bulk of the comedic material. But watching how Rasputia treats Norbit makes it feel OK to laugh at her disposition.
Never the less, Rasputia is a hilarious character that will be mocked and never forgotten.
Norbit has many amusing co-stars like the local Rib Shack owners and ex-pimps, Pope Sweet Jesus (Eddie Griffin) and Lord Have Mercy (Kat Williams). Murphy played Norbit, Mr. Wong and Rasputia and did a great job of making them equally hilarious.
“Norbit” is a film that is amusing to all different races and cultures and will be considered a stellar performance by Murphy.