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"NORBIT" (2007) (Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Mild *Heavy *None Mild Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Minor Moderate Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence *Extreme Minor *Heavy Moderate *Moderate QUICK TAKE: Comedy: A henpecked husband must contend with his overbearing and brutally mean wife while hoping to rekindle his friendship and maybe something more with his childhood friend from the orphanage where he was raised. PLOT: Once upon a time, there was an infant named Norbit Albert Rice who was unceremoniously dropped off at the Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage. Raised by Mr. Wong (EDDIE MURPHY), young Norbit's best friend was another orphan, Kate. But when she was adopted, he was all alone until the imposing Rasputia saved him from some bullies and declared him hers forever. Years later, Norbit (EDDIE MURPHY) is the henpecked and mousey husband to Rasputia (EDDIE MURPHY), a mean and extremely obese woman who runs their Boiling Springs, Tennessee home with an iron fist. That traits run in her family as her three muscular brothers, Big Jack (TERRY CREWS), Earl (CLIFTON POWELL) and Blue (LESTER 'RASTA' SPEIGHT) use their Latimore Construction Company as a front for extorting all of the local businesses. The only people who don't kowtow to them are Mr. Wong as well as Pope Sweet Jesus (EDDIE GRIFFIN) and Lord Have Mercy (KATT WILLIAMS), two former pimps who now run the local ribs joint. Working as their bookkeeper, Norbit isn't remotely happy there or at home, especially when he discovers that Rasputia is having an affair with local aerobics instructor Buster (MARLON WAYANS). Yet, things look up when Kate (THANDIE NEWTON) unexpectedly returns to town, hoping to purchase the orphanage from Mr. Wong. Norbit is excited to see his childhood friend now grown up and quite attractive, but is heartbroken when he learns she's engaged to real estate developer Deion Hughes (CUBA GOODING, JR.). Nevertheless, he's pleased to spend time with her, something that doesn't set well with Rasputia. When Norbit learns that Deion is in cahoots with his in-laws to conspire against Kate and her plans, the mild-mannered man decides he must do something before it's too late, all while having to deal with his ill-tempered wife. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Murphy or politically incorrect comedies, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For crude and sexual humor, some nudity and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: EDDIE MURPHY plays a married milquetoast and former orphan who only stays and puts up with Rasputia and her mean ways since she's the only family he has. Once Kate returns into his life, however, he hopes to make his feelings for her known. He briefly uses some profanity. EDDIE MURPHY also plays his mean, self-centered, and extremely obese wife who constantly belittles and occasionally gets violent with him. She has an affair with Buster and uses some profanity. EDDIE MURPHY also plays the racist Asian restaurant owner who also runs an orphanage where he raised Norbit and Kate among others. THANDIE NEWTON plays Norbit's childhood friend who was adopted long ago, but has returned to the town as an engaged woman who wants to buy the orphanage. She becomes confused when she develops romantic feelings for Norbit. CUBA GOODING, JR. plays her fiancé, a self-centered con artist who's only going to marry her for her money. EDDIE GRIFFIN and KATT WILLIAMS play former pimps who still dress and act that way while running the local ribs joint. TERRY CREWS, CLIFTON POWELL and LESTER 'RASTA' SPEIGHT play Rasputia's hulking and menacing brothers who use their construction company as a front for extorting the local business owners in something of a mafia style. MARLON WAYANS plays the local aerobics instructor who has an affair with Rasputia. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 5 "s" words, while other expletives and various colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue and song lyrics are present, as are sounds of a sexual encounter. A comedy montage shows a married couple doing various bits of sexual role playing, while nudity is present (a man's bare butt, partially covered bare breasts in a photo, an extremely obese woman in a bikini appearing to be nude down below due to her fat hanging down over her bikini bottom, etc.), and other sexually related material occurs. Comedy based violence (people striking or otherwise getting physical with others) and slapstick style material is present, as are various bits of crude humor. Various characters have bad attitudes, and while they're intended for comedy, some find them and other material as offensive. Various characters drink and/or smoke, and all sorts of potentially imitative behavior is present, which also holds true for some comedy-based tense family moments (a strained marriage). Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Pope Sweet Jesus drinks from a flask at a wedding where others have small glasses of champagne. While walking out, Norbit tells Buster there's cold beer in the fridge. Norbit carries Rasputia's wine cooler, but then has some and then shares it with Kate. Rasputia's brothers say they want to serve watered down liquor in their strip club. There's wine on the table in front of Kate and Deion. Rasputia's brothers may have beer in front of them. Kate has wine, a restaurateur then pours some for Norbit, and the two then raise a toast. Rasputia has a wine cooler. A man on a street in Mexico drinks from a bottle, while people inside a bar also drink. BLOOD/GORE We see young Norbit (as a toddler) playing with a duck in Mr. Wong's restaurant. We then see Mr. Wong pick up the duck, hear a whacking sound, and then see the duck's head fall back to the floor (no blood), with Mr. Wong telling Norbit to play with that. About Kate and him being close, Norbit says (in voice-over narration) that they even pooped together (we see them sitting on adjacent toilets, holding hands, but no nudity or bodily function is seen). Mr. Wong tells the story of young Norbit being bitten on his butt ("close to the hole") by a poisonous snake and contemplating whether to suck out the poison (he decided not to, but Norbit lived). When Rasputia's brothers make an insulting business offer to Mr. Wong, the latter takes that paper, pushes it down inside the back of his pants, rubs it around, and then throws it back at them. Seeing Kate and Norbit together, Mr. Wong sarcastically says it's like old times and tells them maybe they can to take a poop together. Rasputia repeatedly farts in Norbit's presence (in one scene). Rasputia says she likes water parks over regular amusement parks, as you don't have to get off the ride to go to the bathroom. Various scenes feature Rasputia wearing revealing clothing or being nude, all designed to gross out viewers by her copious amounts of fat and flesh. About its previous injury caused by Rasputia, a talking dog complains to Norbit that it can no longer lift its leg to pee. To protect Norbit from Rasputia, Mr. Wong throws a harpoon that impales her in the butt, prompting him to say he got her in the "blow hole." DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE All of the following is played for intended comedy. Rasputia is nothing but mean, demeaning and occasionally violet toward Norbit. In the past, we see a car drive up and toss a swaddled baby out onto the road at an orphanage without stopping (the baby tumbles and rolls before coming to a stop). Stereotypical portrayals of obese people (designed for cheap laughs based on body size and/or to disgust viewers), Asians and more could be offensive to some viewers. About young Norbit (as an infant) being black, Mr. Wong says you can't give those away, and then comments on him being an ugly one too. We see young Norbit (as a toddler) playing with a duck in Mr. Wong's restaurant. We then see Mr. Wong pick up the duck, hear a whacking sound, and then see the duck's head fall back to the floor (no blood), with Mr. Wong telling Norbit to play with that. Some bullies destroy young Norbit's sand castle and then proceed to push him to the ground and pummel him. Rasputia's brothers run a local crime syndicate where they extort local business owners, etc. They also have bad and menacing attitudes toward Norbit. Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy make comments about Rasputia's size, including about Norbit having just bought "the whole damn cow" (when talking about why buying the milk when you can have the cow) and about potholes "in her ass." At Norbit and Rasputia's wedding, Mr. Wong refers to Rasputia as a gorilla and later tells Norbit to have lots of bananas for her. Rasputia cheats on Norbit with Buster, with both then trying to make it sound as if it's Norbit's fault. Some may be offended by Buster (having been caught by Norbit having an affair with Rasputia) that he's going to do what Jesus would have done in the same situation ("turn the other cheek" -- as he walks out naked so that his bare butt is seen). To keep Norbit from leaving her, Rasputia says she's with child, adding that her "t*tties" are all achy and itchy. A carnival pony cries from having to carry a heavy child (played for laughs). It's implied (by a phone conversation he's having) that Deion is cheating on Kate. He's about to leave her when he learns of the potential riches of being married to her, and thus proposes. We later learn that he's conned various women into marrying them before divorcing and going after their money (and leaving them and their kids). Some kids steal and run off with Rasputia's hat. Rasputia's brothers say they want to serve watered down liquor in their strip club. Deion tries to pass off carryout food as something he prepared for Kate. Rasputia has a bad attitude toward Kate. Norbit tells various work-related white lies to Rasputia so that he can sneak off and spend time with Kate. Rasputia's brothers send Norbit with papers for Kate to sign that will be detrimental to her from a business standpoint. Norbit and Kate kiss in a church while she's rehearing her wedding vows for her pending marriage to Deion. By pouring acid onto a potato, Rasputia warns Norbit that's what she's going to do to Kate if she shows up again. Mr. Wong says that in the past he traded a 2-year-old girl for a yak since the latter were hard to come by. Mr. Wong says that black people run fast, but their problems run faster. When Norbit calls Mr. Wong on that sounding racist, Mr. Wong says he is, adding that he doesn't like blacks or Jews, but that they like Chinese food, adding, "Go figure." After a man asks him to be quiet in church, Big Jack punches that man in the face. FRIGHTENING SCENES Unless someone is extremely sensitive to comedy-based violence, none of the scenes listed in that category will come off as unsettling or suspenseful. GUNS/WEAPONS Mr. Wong dreams of being a whaler and has the orphans hold up a fake whale. He then throws a harpoon that pierces it, nearly hitting Norbit. When Rasputia's brothers act menacingly toward him, Mr. Wong jumps up on a table and aims a harpoon at them. To protect Norbit from Rasputia, Mr. Wong throws a harpoon that impales her in the butt, prompting him to say he got her in the "blow hole." IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Sh*t got a ring to it," "You can't get sh*t here," "Bullsh*t," "Bitch(es)" (said many times), "My t*tties are all achy and itchy," "I wanna be a 'ho," "Nipplopolis," "Freak" (sexual), "Old pervs," "Last night I was just trying to nail you," "T*tty bar," "Backseat stanky stanky, hanky panky" (or something close to that), "Why do you run away like a little bitch?" "We even pooped together," "Loser," "Get your ass up," "How you doing?" "Turkey ass," "Eat up, sucker," "He just bought the whole damn cow," "Potholes in her ass," "Mind your damn business," "My ass," "Bug-eyed bastard's ass," "Get the hell out of here," "The queen of whores," "Tramp," "I hope you broke your ass," "I'm tired of playing with your ass," "For the love of Cain," "Where in the hell do you think you're going?" "Why the hell not?" "It's raining little white women," "Oh hell no," "Potential hell to pay," "Where the hell you going?" "Little miss bitch," "You know damn well," "Too damn skinny," "Smart ass," "Sit your punk ass down," "Bitch ass," "Fool," "Kill the bitch," "Ice the bitch," "I sure as hell don't," "Find somebody who gives a rat's ass," "Screwy dame," "You're pissing everybody off today," "I'm getting the H out of here," "Nuts" (exclamation), "Shut up," "What the hell did you just say?" "Boy, did I have your ass," "Once a loser, always a loser," "His ass is mine" and "Right in the blow-hole." Some kids may want to imitate the various supposedly zany antics and other behavior on display in the film. In the past, we see a car drive up and toss a swaddled baby out onto the road at an orphanage without stopping (the baby tumbles and rolls before coming to a stop). Mr. Wong dreams of being a whaler and has the orphans hold up a fake whale. He then throws a harpoon that pierces it, nearly hitting Norbit. Rasputia's brothers pour barbershop comb-cleaning liquid into a barber's mouth, repeatedly hit a tied up man with something, and then push a restaurant owner's face down into a pot of spaghetti sauce (all to intimidate them). Big Jack adjusts his clothed crotch. Noting the lack of distance between her large bust and the steering wheel, Rasputia comments that her "t*tty" makes the horn blow and then repeatedly demonstrates that. When Rasputia's brothers make an insulting business offer to Mr. Wong, the latter takes that paper, pushes it down inside the back of his pants, rubs it around, and then throws it back at them. Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy are former pimps who still dress and act the part. Various characters use the term "bitches" about women. Rasputia chases after a small dog with her car, eventually hitting it (we don't see the impact, but hear the squeal). We think the dog is dead, but later see it trailing a chariot type appendage that suspends its back legs, thus allowing it to get around. Big Jack flexes his pecs beneath his shirt. By pouring acid onto a potato, Rasputia warns Norbit that's what she's going to do to Kate if she shows up again. After a man asks him to be quiet in church, Big Jack punches that man in the face. Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy do some exaggerated dancing that some kids might want to imitate. To protect Norbit from Rasputia, Mr. Wong throws a harpoon that impales her in the butt, prompting him to say he got her in the "blow hole." JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A tiny bit of suspenseful music (played comically) occurs in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Some songs had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing objectionable content. A song has the word "damn" in it. The song "Sexual Healing" has those lyrics as well as "Let's make love tonight." Rasputia sings along to the song that has the lines, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" A song has lyrics using "milkshake" as a double entendre about a woman and her sexuality. PROFANITY At least 5 "s" words, 3 slang terms for sex ("nail," "score" and "tapping"), 1 for male genitals ("peepee"), 7 for breasts ("t*tty" or "t*tties"), 22 asses, 20 damns, 20 hells, 1 incomplete S.O.B., 7 uses of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "Lord have mercy," "Mary, mother of God," "Oh my God" and "Oh sweet Jesus." SEX/NUDITY All of the following is played for intended comedy. We see Norbit and Rasputia walking along with their hands in each other's back pocket. Big Jack adjusts his clothed crotch. Mr. Wong tells a story about young Norbit always being naked and having a "peepee the size of an egg roll." The song "Sexual Healing" has those lyrics as well as "Let's make love tonight." There's a montage of Rasputia and Norbit doing sexual role-playing where she shows up in the bedroom doorway dressed various way (lingerie, leather, wearing chains, etc.) and then runs and jumps on a scared-looking Norbit, causing the bed to collapse beneath them). During one such clip, we see Norbit shirtless. Noting the lack of distance between her large bust and the steering wheel, Rasputia comments that her "t*tty" makes the horn blow and then repeatedly demonstrates that. We see Buster mostly shirtless while teaching an aerobics class. We then see him lying on the floor looking up at a woman's clothed crotch (with a lusty smile on his face). On several occasions, we can see the shape of Rasputia's nipples under her clothing. Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy are former pimps who still dress and act the part. A painting in a bar shows a bare-breasted woman with twirling objects over her nipples (protruding out from the picture and spinning around). Pope Sweet Jesus comments on them selling "bitches" to Johns and now them doing the reverse. Norbit comes home to hear Rasputia and Buster in the bedroom making enthusiastic sounds and Buster telling her, "You ain't never had it like this." Norbit then goes into the bedroom to see the two under the sheets. Buster then gets up and is nude (we see him from the lower hips up), with Norbit adversely reacting to the sight of his penis (we don't see it, but a comment is made about it). Buster then leaves, and we see his bare butt as he exits. Norbit then refers to Rasputia as the "queen of whores." While doing a puppet show for children, Norbit gets caught up in the moment, and thinking about having just caught Rasputia cheating on him, has the puppets start using terms such as "tramp" and "whore." When Buster shows up for another affair with Rasputia, she says she has dance fever and he replies he's ready for some power tapping (a double entendre). Rasputia sings along to the song that has the lines, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" To keep Norbit from leaving her, Rasputia says she's with child, adding that her "t*tties" are all achy and itchy. Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy convert a carnival kissing booth woman (who shows some cleavage) into their "ho," prompting another woman there to say she wants to be one as well. Kate shows some cleavage. Rasputia makes a sexual remark about what she thinks Norbit wants to do with Kate. Kate visits Norbit in a hospital and notes the heart rate monitor attached to him shows an increasing heartbeat. As she moves in closer, it keeps increasing, especially when she leans over his bed for a closer look, resulting in her partially open top being right in his face. Rasputia's brothers say that the orphanage is a perfect place to close and then re-open as a "t*tty bar" they'll call Nipplopolis. Kate shows some cleavage. We see the very obese Rasputia in a bikini at a water park. Her top shows a lot of cleavage, and her large belly makes it look as if she's not wearing a bikini bottom (a worker asks her about just that, prompting her to pull up her belly to show that bottom). Later, while sunbathing, it again looks as if she's only wearing a bikini top. We see a young woman in a bikini at a water park, along with various shirtless guys at other moments. Rasputia lies and tells Kate that she (Rasputia) can't keep Norbit off her, that he's a freak in bed, and comments on the headboard banging, etc. As Rasputia prepares to go down a water slide in a bikini, we see the top of her butt crack. We see Rasputia washing a car in slow-motion, with her large bosom wiping across the window, etc. (all as a comedy bit about similar scenes in other movies showing young, sexy women doing the same). A song has lyrics using "milkshake" as a double entendre about a woman and her sexuality. About Norbit seeing Kate later that night, Pope Sweet Jesus asks if he's paying for that pending encounter. Norbit says no, prompting Pope Sweet Jesus to say that it's then a date. We see Rasputia getting a bikini wax lying down. A woman is between her legs (we don't see that area) and yanks out a huge patch of hair, prompting Rasputia to kick the woman in the face reflexively. Rasputia then comments that she was looking for Norbit's police whistle (meaning it was stuck in her pubic hair after sexual role-playing). Norbit and Kate kiss in a church while she's rehearing her wedding vows for her pending marriage to Deion. About its previous injury caused by Rasputia, a talking dog complains to Norbit that it can no longer hump, adding that humping was its thing. We see Rasputia's bare back and side of her bare breast as she lowers herself into a bathtub. Trying to make Kate leave so that Rasputia doesn't harm her, Norbit (locked in the basement) lies that, "Last night I was just trying to nail you -- you know, score." We see one of Rasputia's muscular brothers in just boxers as he does some home aerobics. Trying to bide time in a church to postpone a wedding, Pope Sweet Jesus talks about the "L" word (love, not lesbians as one man guesses), adding that he's also not talking about the "backseat, stanky, stanky, hanky panky" kind (or something close to that). He also talks about condoms being ribbed for her pleasure and that if they're turned inside out, they're now for the man's pleasure. About objecting before the moment when that's usually done at a wedding, he jokes that he's "objecting prematurely." We see some miscellaneous cleavage. We see Rasputia dressed as a stripper in a Mexican bar. She does some sexy moves, slaps away one man's hand, and then sits in a chair, pulls a rope, and releases water down onto herself (mimicking a scene from "Flashdance"). SMOKING Pope Sweet Jesus smokes twice, while Rasputia smokes once. TENSE FAMILY SCENES All of the following is played for intended comedy. We hear that Norbit was an orphan. Norbit isn't happy in his marriage to Rasputia since she constantly belittles and occasionally beats him. Norbit takes off his wedding ring and puts it in the trash after catching Rasputia cheating on him. Seeing Norbit and Kate kissing in a church, Rasputia passes out in her moving car and crashes into another vehicle. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT We hear that Norbit was an orphan. Mean and abusive spouses. Misogyny. Jokes based on the portrayal of extremely obese people, including their sexuality. VIOLENCE All of the following is played for intended comedy. In the past, we see a car drive up and toss a swaddled baby out onto the road at an orphanage without stopping (the baby tumbles and rolls before coming to a stop). We see young Norbit (as a toddler) playing with a duck in Mr. Wong's restaurant. We then see Mr. Wong pick up the duck, hear a whacking sound, and then see the duck's head fall back to the floor (no blood), with Mr. Wong telling Norbit to play with that. Mr. Wong dreams of being a whaler and has the orphans hold up a fake whale. He then throws a harpoon that pierces it, nearly hitting Norbit. Young Norbit wipes out on his bicycle. Some bullies destroy young Norbit's sand castle and then proceed to push him to the ground and pummel him. Young Rasputia then shows up, picks up both bullies, and slams them together (to save Norbit for her own). Young Norbit pushes young Rasputia on a swing, but she then unknowingly knocks him backwards when swinging back through. Rasputia's brothers pour barbershop comb-cleaning liquid into a barber's mouth, repeatedly hit a tied up man with something, and then push a restaurant owner's face down into a pot of spaghetti sauce (all to intimidate them). One of Rasputia's brothers threatens Norbit about if he ever makes Rasputia unhappy (and squeezes Norbit's shoulder while doing so, causing him some pain). Thinking Norbit moved her car seat forward, Rasputia punches him in the face. Despite having just been the one who cheated on Norbit, Rasputia chases him out of the house, knocking over the mailman (we later see him in a neck brace) and then running through a lemonade stand, smashing the table. Rasputia chases after a small dog with her car, eventually hitting it (we don't see the impact, but hear the squeal). We think the dog is dead, but later see it trailing a chariot type appendage that suspends its back legs, thus allowing it to get around. Some kids steal Rasputia's hat, so she follows them into a moon-bounce type attraction. There, she charges one, causing the girl to be bounced across the way where she hits the other side and is knocked out. She then causes two girls to bounce out of the attraction (they're okay). Rasputia pushes a large outdoor speaker down onto Norbit, knocking him out (resulting in him being in a hospital). Rasputia goes down a tall water slide and gains so much speed that she flies out of the track and blasts through a wooden fence. Norbit falls off a bicycle, and then crashes again in a later scene. Seeing Norbit and Kate kissing in a church, Rasputia passes out in her moving car and crashes into another vehicle. We see Norbit blast out through the front window and land on the lawn (from Rasputia knocking or kicking him through it -- not seen). Big Jack pushes Norbit backwards and then pins him to a wall. Rasputia repeatedly whacks Norbit. After a man asks him to be quiet in church, Big Jack punches that man in the face. Rasputia grabs and holds onto Norbit (who's on a bike), pulling him up alongside the SUV she's in. Norbit accidentally crash-lands in a pond on his bicycle. Rasputia's brothers come after Norbit, with him closing an organ key cover on one's hand, while another tackles him. Rasputia then breaks a store's glass front to retrieve a shovel she uses to threaten Norbit. When various business owners and residents try to intervene, she takes them on (shovel vs. paddle with one, knocking aside another after he hits her in the face with a prosthetic leg, and picking up a woman and tossing her into a flowerbed). When she raises the shovel to whack Norbit, Mr. Wong throws a harpoon that hits her in the butt (she reacts and then runs off in sped-up footage with it sticking out of her -- no blood). Reviewed February 6, 2007 / Posted February 9, 2007

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