It’s a good thing Eddie Murphy’s sitting on an Oscar nomination for his dramatic turn in “Dreamgirls,” because his latest comedy is a nightmare. 



The trouble with “Norbit,” which was produced to showcase Murphy’s vast comic repertoire, is that the laughs get buried under way too much gimmickry.  There is potential all over this film with comedians Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams and Marlon Wayans, plus Thandie Newton (“Crash,” “The Pursuit of Happyness”) and Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr., but every scene is overwrought with unfunny caricatures and tired jokes.  We’ve seen every gimmick and sight gag before in better, funnier films. 



In “Norbit,” Murphy plays the title character, who as a baby is left at an orphanage run by Mr. Wong (also played by Murphy).  Mr. Wong declares Norbit the ugliest baby he’s ever seen and raises the boy until he’s grown.  This film does not include a story arc where the nerdy, lisping, simple and warmhearted Norbit seeks out his parents, but if it did, he would undoubtedly find television’s Urkel and Forrest Gump living a lovely domestic partnership somewhere. 



Norbit marries his childhood sweetheart — not cute Kate, the one he pretend-marries under the orphanage tree right before she gets adopted, but Rasputia, the big girl with the even bigger mouth who keeps him from being the playground bullies’ punching bag.  It’s a mutually beneficial relationship for a while.  The unattractive girl gets a husband, and the orphan gets a family. 



The one star in this review is for whoever is responsible for the visual effects and for Murphy’s ability to inhabit three different characters.  He’s done this before but to different effect.  In “The Nutty Professor” (1996), Murphy played various members of the Klump family, but you could tell it was him under the makeup.  In “Norbit,” he is unrecognizable as Rasputia and Mr. Wong, but unfortunately they’re not funny.  At least the Klumps made us laugh. 



(OK, there is one funny joke, delivered by Mr. Wong, but it shall not be revealed here in case there are any readers out there who insist on sitting through this film.) 



Murphy’s Rasputia is a fat, rude, loudmouthed stereotype, whose sole purpose in the film is to humiliate Norbit and provide numerous fat-person gags: She plops into a kiddie pool and all the water splashes out; she gets into a sports car — about six times throughout the movie — and her huge boobs rub up against the steering wheel, sounding the horn; she breaks the bed numerous times; gets in a bathtub and the bathroom floods; goes to the beauty shop ... let’s stop there. 



The comic relief — if there can be such a thing in a comedy — could have saved this film if the actors had been given better material that made sense.  Griffin and Williams as ex-pimps and Wayans (also unrecognizable as Rasputia’s dance instructor) are just kind of thrown into the film like a splash of color in an earth-toned room. 

Newton’s grown-up Kate is beautiful and kind and has genuine affection for Norbit, but even the love story can’t save this film. 



The folks at Dreamworks played their cards right when they released “Dreamgirls” before “Norbit”; if “Norbit” had come out first, folks might not have taken Murphy too seriously.  Here’s an idea: Keep Murphy on your payroll, but give him a role that capitalizes on his ability to be funny without all the bells and whistles.  He did it in the ’80s with films such as “Trading Places” and “Beverly Hills Cop” and in the ’90s with “Bowfinger.” 



Good luck on Oscar night, Eddie.  Here’s hoping that little gold statuette brings you the comic roles you deserve. 



norbit ★



Starring: Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton and Cuba Gooding Jr.



Director: Brian Robbins



Rated: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, some   nudity and        language