NORBIT

US, 2007, 102 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Terry Crews.
Directed by Brian Robbins

Definitely an Eddie Murphy film. He co-wrote the story and screenplay, produced and takes three major roles. It obviously has a huge audience on home ground and has been very successful in the US. But, whether it travels well is another question.

A distraction during the screening was to wonder who was the most irritating, screeching character in films recently, whether Diane Keaton as the mother in Because I Said So or Eddie Murphy as the humungous and monstrous Rasputia here. It’s an almost impossible decision. Rasputia is at first a helpful little girl, well a rather big little girl, who helps the harassed orphan Norbit, also Murphy. They grow up and marry and she turns into a dominating harridan in collusion with her brutal brothers who have the town under control. Norbit is a pleasant nerd who loves orphans and pines for his childhood sweetheart, Kate (Thandie Newton) who turns up to bring some sweetness and light.

There is quite a lot of plot, plenty of crass jokes and innuendo which puts it beyond the younger audience who might relish the slapstick. It is with great relief to read at the end that the characters bear no similarity to any real person – so, we are reassured there is no such real Rasputia.