The origins of Black History Month can be traced back to 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson sought to bring black history and culture into the forefront of social consciousness. Since then, February has been a month about achievements and the ongoing struggle to move forward into equality — which is why it’s so terribly ironic that Eddie Murphy’s latest comical blunder, Norbit, should premier in such a significant month for African-Americans.
This movie is an unimaginative amalgamation of cultural stereotypes that a 10-year-old with MTV could have written, directed and starred in. Norbit delivers no originality, little comedy, and no memorable acting performances; suffice to say, don’t expect this on any Oscar lists.
Let’s have a quick look at the characters in Norbit:
Norbit (Eddie Murphy). A meek and whiny man who’s controlled by his over-bearing wife.
Rasputia (Eddie Murphy). Norbit’s writers must have been salivating with this character — the ability to humiliate African-Americans and fat people at the same time doesn’t come along every day. The furniture-destroying, rib-loving Dr. Phil fan, Rasputia, is a joke of a character — think Big Momma’s House meets Flavor Of Love.
Mr. Wong (Eddie Murphy). Watching Mr. Wrong, purveyor of the “Golden Won Ton” restaurant and orphanage, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. In the Lee movie, there’s a scene where Bruce Lee (Jason Scott Lee) is looking up at a TV that’s playing Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the buck-toothed, squinty-eyed Mr. Yunioshi (one of the most notoriously racist characters in movie history, as played by Mickey Rooney) appears — for only one purpose, to be laughed at. Not because there’s anything funny going on, or any innovative jokes, but because he’s Asian. Bruce Lee, as I recall, is very angered by this, and it serves as fuel in his desire to show the world he’s not just some goofy Asian. I’d imagine Mr. Wong will end up the 2007 equivalent of Mr. Yunioshi for some beleaguered Asian kid. Some of Mr. Wong’s more memorable moments include saying something to the effect of “Brack run fast, but probrems faster,” in his best schoolyard Asian accent, and exclaiming that no one wants black children by saying he “can’t give away black babies.”
Kate (Thandie Newton). In what has to be one of the biggest let-downs of the movie, Thandie Newton delivers a terrible (and I mean terrible) performance as Norbit’s fantasy love-interest, Kate. Especially after such a stellar contribution to Crash, it’s very confusing to watch her turn in a performance that reeked of high-school drama class. However, in all fairness to Thandie Newton, Norbit’s script is dreadful.
Big Jack (Terry Crews). Big Jack and his gang of muscle-bound, pea-brained toughs are yet another accomplishment in Norbit’s contributions to African-American culture.
Deion (Cuba Gooding Jr.). I can’t say I’m disappointed with Cuba in this role. I would first have to have some kind of heightened expectations and confidence in his acting ability, and I do not. His character, however, is a gold-digging liar. Are you keeping track here with me? So far we have a weak pushover of a man, a foul-mouthed giant of a woman, a gang of dumb, muscle-bound bullies, a lying gold-digger… all that’s left to run the gamut of African-American stereotypes is a pimp.
Pope Sweet Jesus (Eddie Griffin). He and his pimp sidekick, Lord Have Mercy, are one of the only legitimately entertaining aspects of this movie. And really it just boils down to one thing: Eddie Griffin. Not unfamiliar with playing a pimp, Griffin has the moves and delivery to be funny in whatever role he’s put in. You can even see Thandie Newton laughing on a number of occasions as it appears as if Griffin and his sidekick work some improv material into the movie.
As a society, are we not yet tired of these kinds of movies? It seems a new one pops up every month, with the same bland jokes and the same dangerous cultural undertones. These kinds of movies add nothing to the film culture, or our society as a whole. I took a friend to the pre-screening, and had a quick chat with her about the problems facing the film industry. And how — right now — there is a writer/director sitting at his home in California with a dynamite script and movie idea… but he can’t find a producer to make it. He doesn’t have the connections, but he does have a good product. At the same time, however, Norbits are churned out with sickening regularity because of the attached washed-up hacks willing to degredate themselves and their culture to add some weight to their wallet.
As a final blow in this movie’s childish, unprofessional nature, my friend who accompanied me noticed, on at least two occasions, the boom mic – fully visible – in the top part of the screen. If that doesn’t speak to the pathetic attempt at film-making inherent in all aspects of Norbit, I don’t know what does.
With the boom mic incidents in mind, I have no choice but to quote the high school principal in Billy Madison, “I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
0*/5*
