Norbit

Norbit follows a shy, good hearted man who seems trapped in a life of quiet discomfort. He's engaged to Rasputia, a loud, pushy woman whose overbearing ways dominate every scene. When he meets Kate Thomas, a gentle and thoughtful woman who treats him with genuine respect, his feelings change. He longs for real connection but worries about hurting Rasputia and upsetting his circle of friends. To keep hope alive, he plays along with his two very different worlds, staging small deceptions and polite evasions while hoping a fairer future can unfold. The film builds its jokes on the clash between Norbit's restrained nature and the chaotic energy around him.

Directed by Brian Robbins, Norbit rests on an original screenplay credited to Charlie Murphy, David Ronn and Eddie Murphy. Eddie Murphy performs several personas, including Norbit and Rasputia, while Thandiwe Newton plays the empathetic Kate who stirs his heart and the film leans on a playful sense of timing.

Box Office: The film achieved strong commercial performance, drawing broad audiences with its broad comedy and Murphy's familiar blend of quick character changes. While not a critical darling, Norbit proved to be a reliable crowd pleaser with wide appeal worldwide.

Norbit sparked conversations about the use of multiple roles in a performance and the issue of stereotyping in broad comedies. Eddie Murphy's impersonations and the film's over the top humor became talking points, with some praising the energy and others criticizing the stereotypes at its core, sparking debate in circles.

Reception was mixed, reflected in the film's range vote average and a crowd that found the humor uneven yet occasionally sharp. The story leans into themes of self respect, loyalty, and the pull between comfort and affection, using comic mischief to examine relationships. It shows appearances shape trust and choice.