Eddie Murphy follows up his award-winning success in Dreamgirls by getting back in a fat suit, playing multiple roles (The Nutty Professor), and starring in the mean spirited unfunny comedy, Norbit. It is a film that has no story, no moral, and not much at all to like. It was almost a chore to sit through. Thank goodness there were actually a few funny scenes to wake me up from time to time.

Norbit is the story of a nerdy, shy fellow named Norbit, a character reminiscent of Murphy's Jiff from the much better Bowfinger. He is an orphan who is brought up in an orphanage/Chinese restaurant run by Mr. Wong (Murphy). During his time there he develops a strong relationship with fellow orphan, Kate (played in adult form by Thandie Newton). The relationship is broken when Kate is adopted, leaving Norbit alone until Rasputia arrives on the scene and awards him the status of boyfriend. Fast forward to adulthood. Norbit and Rasputia are married and Kate arrives back on the scene.

Kate's return to town throws Norbit's life for a loop. On one hand he would like to reignite the relationship with his old flame, but on the other he is scared to death of his supersized, controlling wife. Not to be left out, Kate has her own set of arm luggage, in the form of Cuba Gooding Jr., putting a crimp in any potential romantic entanglements. On top of the romantic angle, there is a subplot involving buying the orphanage and turning it into a strip club. Sounds like a winner doesn't it?

There is nothing extraordinary about the story. It is well telegraphed and nothing is given to chance. If you think the obvious will happen, you'd be right. The cliché and formulaic story is not the problem, as formulas can and have worked in the past and surely will again. The problem with Norbit is the comedy. It is not funny and rather offensive. It is an endless stream of fat jokes, racial stereotypes, and lacks any type of social commentary that could have made the situation work. Rather than subvert the surface abrasiveness, it is all about the surface.