Eddie Murphy in ‘Norbit’
Despite being negatively blasted by critics, Eddie Muphy’s ‘Norbit’ surprisingly opened at #1 this past weekend – racking in $34.2 million at the box office. Being the biggest opening in 2007 thus far, the film also serves as Murphy’s biggest opening in his career since ‘The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps’.
So it seems, Eddie has found a formula for box office success – and he isn’t the only one. Martin Lawrence brought in over $25 million for the “Big Momma House” franchises. Tyler Perry’s most successful film was where he played Madea the longest – “Madea’ Family Reunion” which made $63 million at box office.
Black men trolloping around in fat suits can be funny, but it is also seen as very offensive and more groups are speaking out on it. Even movie critics dubbed ‘Norbit’ as “mean-spirited” and disrepectful to African American women who were overweight.
I haven’t seen the movie and I admit, I thought it would be funny but, I definitely understand other point of views. Have you seen the movie and did you find it offensive? Do you think the “fat suit” formula is offensive to the African American women they’re portraying? Or is it just entertainment, and comedy…which is suppose to be politically incorrect, taken lightly and just humor?
YEAA, WHATEVER… I HEARD IT WAS FUNNY AS HELL SO I WILL BE SEEING IT THIS WEEKEND.
ITS JUST A MOVIE. PEOPLE SHOULD STOP BEING SO SENSITIVE & EMOTIONAL.
its harmless fun, i believe.
if Eddie found it offensive, he wouldn’t do such a thing.
its your choice to watch the movie.
besides, i dont think he acts in movies purely for the money involved.
i know im going to watch this film boi!
Are they fucking serious?
Its just a fucking movie,Damn its a comedy!
I sat my fat ass in the movie theather
and laughed my ass off,its just a damn funnie movie like it or not but get the fuck over it,believe me when I say you will get over it,that movie theater was filled with big ass women so who took it offensive.
I am overweight, female, and black – this movie was hilarious. Raspucia is a character people. She is funny period. Do we have to dissect every little thing?
I found the movie to be hilarious and I am a heavy woman. It did not offend me at all. If we as heavy people get so offended then maybe we need to do something about our weight. It is not healthy to be overweight and we know it, so why are we getting so offended? I have the slightest idea. I know I am heavy and need to work it, but until I do I will continue to enjoy a nice smothered pork chop with mash potatoes and gravy. “How you during?”
I have seen the movie and it was very funny. I don’t think people should get offended by it, especially overweight black women , unless they see themselves in that character. Its just a movie people. That character is overly exaggerated.
Remember all the racist material and the word “nigger” flying everywhere on the Dave Chappelle show? It was also funny but Dave has now admitted that most of that came from his WHITE writers who laughed much harder than the black cast. Eventhough Eddie may not mean any harm-don’t think the white powers aren’t already thinking that all black women are tacky, mean, overweight and oversexed. Rasputia is a modern day “mammy”. It’s time out for all that sell out bullshit.
Eddie just can’t seem to stop acting like the donkey from Shrek…which was also stereotypical and clownish.
Norbit looks like hot ass garbage. Big Momma’s House was good for a laugh. The only thing that pisses me off about the Norbit previews is that that fat woman has her belly hanging out and shit. Why is that necessary? They didn’t do that in Big Mama’s House or Madea’s.
@ alexg than i guess black america needs to get it together (i mean i we have to get it together) and i agree they do, but you can’t go through life being offended by everything,but i do understand your point.
I saw the movie Friday night and I thought it was very very funny. I am a big girl and I felt no disrespect. Those people that feel disrespected are not comfortable with themselves. You know you are fat and the people around you know you are fat because they can see it, so what is the big deal. Loose weight if it bothers you and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy.
Ya’ll might as well bring back Amos-n-Andy or
Steppin-Fetchit.
i seriously do not get the “mammie” reference. and why should these black women roles be offensive? should movies that have drug addicts in them be considered offensive? should all of the crackheads of the nation rise up in protest? or how about movies with italian mafia characters? should all of the pizza makers of the world riot in rage? black people are always trying to holler “FOUL” yet we have the most division and negativity in our community.
madea, big momma and norbit are all figures that exist in our community, some sweet and fun matriarchs and some bigs girls that look a hot nasty mess that dress inappropriately-EVERYONE CAN IDENTIFY WITH BOTH. especially big momma and madea-and they are ENDEARING family members. the “big momma”s and “madea”s were pillars that headed families, took care of people, nurtured and loved any and everyone. so what is wrong with portraying that….and i know some big mommas that are funny as hell. are people mad cuz its comedy? even tho the chracters make jokes and play a lot, there’s usually a message in there somewhere (with madea and big momma-haven’t seen norbit)
i think black folks need to stop always TRYING to find something to jump up and protest about. we’re talking movies here-ENTERTAINMENT! but after folks get done hoopin and hollerin about this, how are they conducting themselves in their lives? do they make fun of and tear down other black women in everyday REAL life? are they themselves upstanding and positive people? everybody’s always judging the next person…but stop and look at yourself, check yourself, and order your steps!
i NEVER wanted to see this movie and im glad i didnt go with my family because they didnt like it.they said it was nasty and wasnt for kids at all..it doesnt look like it had a plot.just something ignorant to make money.
oh, and for those who want to complain about the love interest being a light skinned skinny chick-AGAIN, look at how we do in REAL life!
in videos, who do you see more of? sometimes in the community, who is revered more highly? how many times have you heard “i like ‘em light skinned with long hair”? i mean for real…..art imitating LIFE
i saw on tyra that a 5 year old girl called someone fat, and it happened to be her momma…did anybody see that??? thats what lil kids think when they see everybody in the world now. At the age of 5, she worried about her momma havin baby fat. i find that strange..
#80…..you are sooo damn wrong. that eitha came out wrong or you just dont have no sense
@105
No disrespect but you made my point for me. I’m not gonna draw this out any further but you really don’t have a plan, at least nothing that has the remotest possibility of being implemented. Other cultures have always been highly aware of our creations because we’re the Most High’s chosen. Our style overwhelms everyone else. The “hip-hop scene” that is in Japan and other countries is nothing but modern day blackface (which many countries still have on their TV networks). Really, who cares who the top rapper in Japan is? Lol, are you kidding me with that shit? I don’t even give a damn who the top rapper in America is and the knowledge of who the top rapper in any country is, is the last thing that black people that pay attention are concerned with. I do remember the Prime Minister of Japan saying that the main problem in America is “the blacks” though, lol.
I get tired of black people saying that we have to “open ourselves to other cultures”. We don’t even understand our own culture yet. That sounds like, “let’s try to piece together a history and culture from other races because I’m too lazy to do research.” That’s why blacks run and fabricate “black holidays” like Kwanzaa, which have no historical or cultural relevance whatsoever.
I notice that when you start to question these enlightened negroes on their “plan”, as long as you ask piercing questions, it quickly becomes apparent that they have no plan other than to say high-minded, vain things that they hope will make other people think that they’re smart. The white man makes you give (or sell) some of yourself to him when you become exceedingly successful in his system. It’s amazing how much Eddie Murphy’s demeanor, way of speaking, and countenance have changed in the last 20 years. I honestly don’t think that he feels comfortable being funny unless he’s dressed up as something or somebody because he’s probably inwardly ashamed about what he’s had to do to get to where he’s at.
I myself have not seen the movie and I don’t think it was made to offend anyone. Im sure there is no try to read between the lines in this movie and Im sure it was probably just for comedic entertainment. I don’t think Eddie Murphy would really take part to anything to offend women or his own race for that matter.But if anyone does feel offended you could always write to the producers or something.
Holla back if you feel me
I saw Norbit and it was a good movie…people trying to make this a movie degrading overweight women are being too sensitive and thinking too hard. The role of Respusha could have been played by any woman,fat or skinny, as long as she was mean! I agree with a previous poster that said Norbit is about a man who gets pushed around, not only by an overbearing wife, but by his employer (her brothers)..after being taken advantage of his whole life he finds his balls and stands up for himself..that’s positive..thank you.
Gosh everything has to be so deep Its just a Movie I think it is off the chain funny
Man Judah! that hurt a little. I am black, half Jamaican and half African I understand about being black, I understand my history my roots etc. But unfortunately or fortunately I never had parents from the south, never had to deal with the migration issue from South to North, I never had to grow up in America, but I understand the oppression and the struggles of our people. all over the world. I have lived here for 11 years, LA NYC SOuth BEach and Chicago. But I do have a plan and it was too simple for complex shoulder bearing concious blacks such as yourself. I am one too. But unlike you I do give fuck about other cultures and thats where it begins. I have three children, two had the privilige to travel and live in London for a while and see how different cultures lived, not because they needed to but they saw a difference, they saw police who did’t carry guns, people who were not called overweight mammies and ridiculed on tv as much, but they also see how white’s colonialism and other europeaniztion of OUR culture, beauty has transpired. they see how other ethnic groups such as asians, the irish etc have been ostracized throughout the years. I was simply saying, if people like you and I JUDAH know this then OUR EDUCATUION OF OUR KIDS may make a difference. But if you don’t believe that then your kids and your outlook on this generation is negative and pessimistic at best. Eddie Murphy Micheal Jackson Welsey Snipes and a lot of black men who it appears have an issue with dark beautiful full black women are acting and raising kids based on their experiences. I refuse to let my kids think that this is all they have because to my concious rational thinking knowledge it isn’t.
And if knowledge truly is power, isn’t it a shame you don’t care about learning who is doing what with HIP HOP elsewhere (if HIp Hop is a culture and art form you truly love) and if not hip hop any art form period that you have an interest in, you should be aware of how it is represented around the world, or you become like the people you chastise. Undeducated at worst, or suffer from a lack of knowledge at best. Either way you are not as informed as you think you are or want to be all based on the strength of a wonderfully created phrase which seems to encompass all things when people like just what they know ” I don’t care about…….”
No, I did not find it offensive! Those overweight African American women who do find it offensive need to lose weight. The problem is not the movie, but themselves…they see themselves in the movie and recognized with it. I say, if making movies like this will stop those fat women from eating and gaining weight that is not heathly for them, then Martin and Eddie do it one more time for the BIG Fat A@! women. Lose the weight– its not heathly for you! Good job Eddie . I thought the movie was funny as hell. Its funny because I think we all can find a Raspusha somewhere at our place of business, home or may be in ourselves. Raspusha is nasty looking and Ghetto fabulous. If you identify with her than lose the damn weight and change your ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This movie was drop dead hilarious despite what ANY critic says. Sorry-reality check folks lol