Norbit -

| Theme | Description | Examples from Film | |-------|-------------|--------------------| | The “Magical Negro” trope | Subverted? Perpetuated? | The orphanage owner (Eddie Murphy in makeup) who offers wisdom. | | Fatphobia & gender | Rasputia as villainous, grotesque, controlling. | Physical humor: breaking furniture, loud eating, violent outbursts. | | Colorism | Light-skinned Kate vs. dark-skinned Rasputia. | Moral alignment: good = thin/light, bad = fat/dark. | | Cross-racial performance | Eddie Murphy in Asian (Mr. Wong) & Black (Rasputia) makeup. | Historical link to minstrelsy and racial masquerade. |

While critics saw a vulgar, offensive mess, the internet saw a goldmine. Norbit is arguably the most quotable and meme-able Eddie Murphy movie since Coming to America.

In the age of irony, Norbit is the perfect film. You don't watch it sincerely; you watch it to quote it. You don't defend its politics; you defend its audacity.

For a real paper, you would cite:

The keyword "Norbit" primarily refers to two distinct entities: a high-performing Norwegian technology company specializing in subsea and connectivity solutions, and a cult-classic comedy film starring Eddie Murphy. 1. NORBIT ASA: A Norwegian Technology Powerhouse

NORBIT ASA is a global technology group based in Trondheim, Norway, known for providing "tailored technology to more markets." As of mid-2025, the company has seen explosive growth and investor confidence.

Financial Trajectory: In the first half of 2025, NORBIT reported revenues of NOK 1,206 million, a 46% increase from the previous year. Their EBIT margin remained robust at 25%, driven by high demand in their Oceans and Connectivity segments. Key Segments:

Oceans: This division provides high-resolution multibeam echosounders like the iWBMS, used for seafloor mapping and artificial reef detection.

Connectivity: Focuses on wireless solutions for dedicated short-range communications, such as tolling systems and smart tachographs.

Market Position: Despite some earnings misses relative to high analyst expectations, the company is frequently rated as a "buy" due to its strong operating leverage and ability to expand margins. 2. The Film "Norbit" (2007)

On the cultural side, Norbit is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Brian Robbins. It is best known for featuring Eddie Murphy in three distinct roles: the mild-mannered Norbit Rice, his overbearing wife Rasputia Latimore, and the orphanage owner Mr. Wong.

Plot & Legacy: The story follows Norbit, an orphan raised in a Chinese restaurant, who finds himself trapped in an unhappy marriage with the fearsome Rasputia. While the film received polarized critical reviews, it has maintained a legacy for Murphy's physical comedy and range.

Cultural Footprint: The movie is often cited in discussions about Eddie Murphy’s career, specifically his penchant for playing multiple characters under heavy prosthetic makeup. It also serves as a case study in film subtitling and translation, where translators must navigate its specific brand of American slang and racial humor. 3. Etymology and Name Origin

The name Norbit is believed to be a variant of the surname Norbert. This Old Germanic name combines "nord" (north) and "berht" (bright or famous), loosely translating to "Bright North," which fittingly aligns with the Norwegian company's geographic origins.

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To "put together a paper" on , you could be referring to a critical analysis of the 2007 Eddie Murphy film or a technical report on the hydrographic technology company. Norbit

Below are outlines for both perspectives to help you structure your work. Option 1: Film Analysis (The 2007 Movie)

This paper would focus on the cultural impact, comedic style, and controversies surrounding the film directed by Brian Robbins. Introduction : Briefly introduce

(2007) as a comedy where Eddie Murphy plays multiple roles, including the protagonist Norbit Rice and the antagonist Rasputia Latimore. Plot Overview

: Summarize the story of a shy orphan bullied into marriage by the domineering Rasputia, only to find a second chance at love with his childhood crush, Kate. Thematic Analysis The "Everyman" Struggle

: Norbit’s journey from a submissive husband to finding his own voice. Comedy vs. Controversy

: Discuss critics' views on the film's reliance on "crude, sexist, and racist humor" and its portrayal of body image. Technical Achievements

: Highlight the makeup and prosthetic work required to transform Murphy into his various characters. Conclusion

: Reflect on the film's legacy—it was a commercial success despite poor critical reception. Option 2: Technical/Business Paper (NORBIT ASA)

This paper would focus on the global technology company that specializes in high-end sonar and subsea systems.

Plot

The movie revolves around Norbit Ryan (played by Eddie Murphy), a man who was severely bullied as a child due to his obesity. To cope with his difficult life, Norbit creates an alternate personality named Rasputia, a large, intimidating, and foul-mouthed woman. As an adult, Norbit meets and falls in love with a beautiful woman named Nora (played by Thandie Newton). They get married and start a happy life together.

However, their happiness is disrupted when Rasputia, Norbit's childhood bully, returns to wreak havoc on their lives. Rasputia (also played by Eddie Murphy) is a huge, dominating, and obnoxious woman who terrorizes Norbit and Nora.

Main Characters

Themes

Reception

The movie received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $200 million worldwide. | Theme | Description | Examples from Film

Awards and Nominations

Impact

While the movie received mixed reviews, it has become a cult classic and is often referenced in popular culture.

Would you like to know more about the making of the movie or its cultural impact?

We cannot write about Norbit without addressing the elephant (or the woman in the leopard print) in the room. In 2007, the NAACP criticized the film for its portrayal of Rasputia, arguing it reinforced negative stereotypes of Black women as loud, aggressive, and sexually voracious.

Looking at it today, the critique holds weight. While Murphy famously uses fat suits to liberate his inner id (think Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor), Rasputia lacks the redeeming sweetness of Mama Klump. Rasputia is purely a monster. She is an abusive spouse—physically, emotionally, and financially controlling Norbit. The joke is always her size and her appetite.

However, a modern re-evaluation might argue that Norbit is a stealth drama about domestic abuse. Norbit is a male victim of a female abuser, a story rarely told in mainstream comedy. The film never glorifies Rasputia; it holds her up as a force of destruction. The fact that the character is played by a man in a suit highlights the absurdity of the power imbalance, but it also complicates the racial and gender politics in ways the filmmakers likely never intended.

In the vast, sprawling filmography of Eddie Murphy, there are clear peaks (Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor) and deep valleys (Pluto Nash, The Adventures of Pluto Nash’s box office returns). But then there is Norbit.

Released in February 2007—a notorious dumping ground for movies the studio doesn’t quite know what to do with—Norbit was a critical punching bag. It currently holds a paltry 9% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was savaged by reviewers for its crass humor, its reliance on fat suits, and what many perceived as a regressive portrayal of Black womanhood and plus-sized bodies.

Yet, nearly two decades later, Norbit refuses to fade away. It has become a cultural touchstone, a meme factory, and for a sizable audience, a genuinely beloved comedy. How did a movie this reviled become so unforgettable? Let’s dive into the strange, gelatinous world of Norbit.

Let’s be honest. Norbit is not a good movie in the traditional sense. It is structurally messy. The third act (the water park rescue) is absurd. Cuba Gooding Jr. seems confused. Thandie Newton deserves hazard pay for acting against a man in rubber makeup.

But Norbit is an essential movie. It is the dark, chaotic flipside to the polished sentimentality of The Princess and the Frog. It represents a moment in comedy where "too far" was just the starting line.

To watch Norbit today is to watch a time capsule of 2000s humor—offensive, loud, and unapologetically stupid. But it is also weirdly sincere. You root for Norbit. You hate Rasputia. You laugh when Mr. Wong says, "I am thinking you are thinking with the wrong head."

Decades from now, people will not remember the reviews. They will remember the quotes. They will remember the memes. And they will ask, "Why did they take the Oscar from the man who created Rasputia?"

Love it or hate it, Norbit lives forever, stuck like a dumpling in the throat of pop culture, refusing to be swallowed or spit out. And honestly? That is a kind of immortality.

Title: The Many Faces of Norbit

[Opening paragraph]

Norbit Ryan, a man with a fragmented personality, struggled to find his place in the world. His life was a complex web of multiple personas, each one a coping mechanism to deal with the traumatic events of his childhood. As a child, Norbit was severely obese and suffered at the hands of his cruel and sadistic parents. But it was also during this time that he discovered his incredible talent for adapting and transforming into different personalities to survive.

[The Birth of Rasputia]

One of these personas was Rasputia, a massive, grotesque, and intimidating alter ego that Norbit would conjure up to protect himself from the cruelty of his parents. Rasputia was a behemoth of a man, with a voracious appetite and a menacing demeanor. This persona allowed Norbit to tap into a deep well of anger and aggression, giving him the strength to endure the unendurable.

[The Allure of Nora]

But Norbit's psyche was also home to a more vulnerable and sensitive persona: Nora. Nora was the embodiment of Norbit's longing for love, acceptance, and connection. She was a shy, awkward, and endearing young woman, with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. Nora was Norbit's attempt to recreate the relationships he never had as a child – a desire for friendship, romance, and family.

[The Convergence of Personas]

As Norbit navigated adulthood, his multiple personas began to converge, causing chaos and confusion in his life. His high school sweetheart, Marva, returned to his life, and Norbit found himself torn between his love for her and his deep-seated fear of being hurt again. Meanwhile, Rasputia and Nora continued to vie for dominance, threatening to upend Norbit's fragile sense of self.

[Redemption and Self-Discovery]

In the end, Norbit's journey was one of self-discovery and redemption. As he confronted his past and the traumas that had shaped him, Norbit began to integrate his multiple personas into a more cohesive and healthy whole. It was a painful and difficult process, but ultimately, it allowed him to find a sense of peace, acceptance, and belonging.

[Closing thoughts]

The story of Norbit Ryan serves as a powerful reminder of the human capacity for resilience and adaptation. Despite being broken and fragmented, Norbit was able to find a way to heal and become whole. His many faces – Rasputia, Nora, and Norbit himself – each held a piece of the puzzle, and it was only by embracing all of them that he could truly find himself.

The legend of Norbit took its most dramatic turn in February 2008. Eddie Murphy was considered the frontrunner to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his devastatingly dramatic turn in Dreamgirls. He had won the Golden Globe, the SAG Award, and the Critics' Choice Award.

Then, the Academy voters watched Norbit.

Norbit was released during the voting period. The narrative is undisputed: the visual of Eddie Murphy in a fat suit, playing the crass, vomit-inducing Rasputia, was so fresh in the minds of older, conservative Academy members that they could not take his serious performance seriously. Murphy lost the Oscar to Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine). In Hollywood history, no single movie has ever torpedoed an actor’s Oscar chances quite like Norbit torpedoed Eddie Murphy’s.