Brian Robbins has a clear sense of the young audiences he wants to reach. We are less persuaded by his direction: Norbit gives its committed performers too little to do beyond repeating the same thin jokes.
Fi1m perspective
Eddie Murphy changes his face and voice in Norbit (2007), but the jokes scarcely change with him. Playing Norbit, Rasputia and Mr. Wong, he gives Brian Robbins three distinct characters to work with, and the director too often treats their differences as sufficient entertainment. We were bored by the repeated physical mockery, especially because the effort behind Murphy’s transformations was so apparent. Robbins has performers prepared to work hard; he does not give their scenes enough shape.
The route to that comedy runs through films aimed at younger viewers, including Good Burger (1997), then the sports films Varsity Blues (1999) and Hardball (2001). These are readily grasped subjects, with an audience Robbins knows how to address. His later directing work includes Meet Dave (2008) and A Thousand Words (2012). Broad comedy is a reasonable specialism, and we have no objection to a film making its intentions obvious.
In Norbit, the missing ingredient is development within a scene: an exchange needs to go somewhere beyond the next insult. Robbins leaves broad delivery to carry material that needs sharper construction, so another appearance by a caricature becomes a substitute for a new joke. Editor Ned Bastille finds a more useful pace in some of the secondary business, and individual performances briefly get things moving. Those are real virtues in a poor film, but the repetitions soon wear them out.
Robbins’s producing work suggests a more useful way to understand his strengths. His collaborations with producer Michael Tollin include Coach Carter (2005), while Smallville (2001) sits among his executive-producing credits. He later moved primarily into producing and executive work, a shift consistent with his aptitude for finding material for younger audiences. That aptitude does not excuse the loose scenes in Norbit, where a director needed to ask more of the writing before asking so much of the actors. Approach it only if Murphy’s three performances are enough of a draw; do not expect a well-built comedy.
Biography
Brian Robbins (born Brian Levine, 22 November 1963) is an American film producer, director and former studio executive. He began his career as an actor, appearing in the television series Head of the Class, before moving into producing and directing. He is also credited as Brian Levine.
Robbins directed Norbit (2007) and other films including Varsity Blues (1999), Hardball (2001) and Meet Dave (2008). As a producer his credits include Coach Carter (2005), Wild Hogs (2007) and Radio (2003). He later held senior executive roles at Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, serving as President and CEO of both from 2021 and 2018 respectively, and as Co-CEO of Paramount Global from 2024 until his departure following the Skydance Media merger in 2025.
