Norbit (2007)
102 min · Comedy
Eddie Murphy's fat-suit comedy was nominated for eight Razzies and many believe its release during awards season cost Murphy the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
The Bottom Reel's take
Ah, 2007. A time when cinematic ambition often collided spectacularly with reality, leaving us with gems like *Norbit*. Eddie Murphy, fresh off an Oscar nomination for *Dreamgirls*, decided to follow up that critical success with... well, this. It’s a film that clearly aims for broad, boisterous comedy, a modern-day take on the classic battle of the sexes, all wrapped up in a package of rubber prosthetics and physical gags. The gap between that intention and the final product is less a chasm and more a geological fault line, resulting in a movie that, while critically lambasted, carved out its own peculiar niche in our collective memory.
Clocking in at a brisk 102 minutes, *Norbit* plunges us into a world of oversized caricatures and slapstick, fully embracing the early 21st-century comedy aesthetic. This is a film that wears its Razzies like a badge of honor, accumulating eight nominations and famously, or perhaps infamously, arriving in theaters just as Murphy was building momentum for an Academy Award. The concept of an actor disappearing into multiple roles is a time-honored comedic tradition, but here, the reliance on the fat suit and often abrasive humor creates a very specific texture of "badness" that's hard to ignore. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it doesn't apologize for its over-the-top antics.
Yet, despite its 9/100 critic score—a number that practically screams "cult classic in the making"—and a more forgiving, if still low, 42/100 from audiences, *Norbit* finds its particular brand of fun in its sheer commitment. It's a film that leans so heavily into its premise and its star’s transformative performances that it becomes undeniably captivating, even if for all the wrong reasons. There’s a certain joy in watching something so earnestly and relentlessly execute its vision, regardless of how much that vision aligns with traditional comedic sensibilities. It's the kind of movie that transcends mere dislike and enters the realm of the truly memorable.
So, is *Norbit* famously bad? Absolutely. Is it unforgettably fun? For us, that’s a resounding yes. We recommend clearing your calendar, gathering a few like-minded friends, perhaps some takeout, and preparing for a viewing experience that demands full, unironic immersion. Forget your expectations of subtlety or highbrow humor; this is a film designed to be watched with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the wonderfully ridiculous. You might not walk away thinking it’s a masterpiece, but you definitely won’t forget it.
Synopsis
A meek man trapped in a miserable marriage to a domineering woman rediscovers his childhood sweetheart and tries to escape his tormentor.