--- title: "Norbit: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/norbit/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/norbit" critics_score: 25 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Norbit (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 25 from 12 reviews: 0 positive, 0 mixed, 12 negative. The consensus on Norbit is firmly negative: the reviews find its comedy crude, repetitive and heavily dependent on jokes about weight and racial stereotypes. Most critics see little comic reward for the nastiness, with weak structure and dated material compounding the problem. Praise is scarce and largely technical: the Los Angeles Times acknowledges the skill in Eddie Murphy’s multiple performances and the makeup effects, but considers both wasted on the material. The differences are chiefly in how much the critics find to salvage, rather than in their recommendation. The Guardian admits to occasional laughter, while Eye for Film credits some well-paced subplots and confident delivery despite disliking the humour and familiar story. The harshest reviews find the caricatures actively hateful; the less severe responses describe a sloppy, one-note comedy with isolated strengths. None offers a positive assessment. ## Slant Magazine — Rob Humanick Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2007. The critic finds Norbit neither particularly good nor bad, noting it owns up to its crude, racist jokes without pretense, but ultimately calls it one-note and discouraging in its low standards and scattershot humor focused on physical mockery. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/norbit/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 March 2007. The critic admits laughing occasionally at the film. It is presented as a mild-mannered fellow's story involving a monstrous fiancée. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/117418/norbit) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 February 2007. The critic views the film as a raucous but sloppy showcase for Eddie Murphy’s multiple roles and makeup effects that fails to cohere into a satisfying comedy. Direction is deemed merely adequate, with many gags feeling lumbering and graceless. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/movies/09norb.html) ## Variety — Robert Koehler Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2007. The critic calls the film a broad, nasty low-ball comedy that lacks structure and relies on crude physical gags and contemptuous stereotypes. Murphy’s Rasputia role stands out for its energetic hate-fueled caricature, but the overall effort falls far short of his better work. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/norbit-2-1200510508/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sam Adams Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 9 February 2007. The review dismisses the film as tired vaudeville-style caricature that exploits fat jokes and lazy stereotypes without insight or freshness. Murphy’s multi-role performance and the makeup effects are acknowledged as technically impressive but ultimately wasted on dated material. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-09-et-norbit9-story.html) ## Empire — Tony Horkins Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2007. The critic finds the film lacking in humor and reliant on offensive stereotypes involving obesity, race, and ethnicity. Eddie Murphy's multiple roles in prosthetics fail to elevate the weak comedy. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/norbit-review/) ## Radio Times — Jamie Russell Rating 1/5. 9 March 2007. The critic calls the film an atrocious and offensive comedy centered on Eddie Murphy's multiple roles in fat-suit antics. The review highlights the distasteful jokes about obesity and sex that undermine any family-friendly pretensions. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-jf9ljj/norbit/) ## Time Out — Melissa Anderson Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2007. The critic condemns the film's fatphobia and lack of any respect or affection shown toward its obese character, contrasting it unfavorably with other comedies. Thandie Newton's visible discomfort is noted as emblematic of the project's overall indignity. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/norbit) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating F. 8 February 2007. The review condemns the film as a hateful comedy that turns back the clock on social progress with hideously offensive black stereotypes and other caricatures. It finds the grotesque characters unfunny and a step back for Murphy. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/norbit-1798202397) ## The Hollywood Reporter Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2007. The critic calls the film a sensationally abysmal lowbrow comedy and a disappointment as Eddie Murphy's follow-up to Dreamgirls. It is described as racially insensitive, politically incorrect, and beyond crude, with little to recommend beyond a sizable audience for its style. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/norbit-159065/) ## The Times — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 7 March 2007. The film is a crass assault on good taste featuring multiple roles by Eddie Murphy in a fat suit, fart gags and insensitive jokes. It is called a big fat failure. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/asia-travel/china/norbit-m8hlmnvdf3r) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 5 March 2007. The critic finds the crude humor unpleasant for most viewers and notes the film's low production values and familiar story, though it has some well-paced subplots and confident delivery. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/norbit-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/norbit.md