Norbit Movie: B- Extras: D-

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.\n"Norbit" was the second time I've been fooled by Eddie Murphy's ability to play multiple characters -- the first time being when I watched "The Nutty Professor." "Norbit" fooled me because, like "The Nutty Professor," it was downright hilarious, despite how horrendous the previews made it look.\nThe story is about Norbit (Murphy), an orphan left at Mr. Wong's (also played by Murphy) orphanage, who is bullied into marriage by an extremely large woman named Rasputia (Murphy again). After years of marriage, Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton), Norbit's childhood sweetheart, returns to their hometown with her fiancé Deion (Cuba Gooding Jr.) to buy the orphanage. But Deion's marriage to Thomas is only a scam to make money.\nFrom this point on, the plot is fairly straightforward. In fact, it is so predictable, even Helen Keller could have seen what was coming next.\nIf you can get past the shoddy script, the acting and humor are phenomenal, and the make-up is so good you cannot even tell that Mr. Wong and Rasputia are being played by Murphy. "Norbit" is also helped greatly by the lead charcter's pimp friends Pope Sweet Jesus (Eddie Griffin) and Lord Have Mercy (Katt Williams), who are equally humorous in their scenes.\nIf Murphy put half the effort he put into his acting into the script, "Norbit" could have easily been one of Murphy's better movies. However, this was not the case, and we are only left with a few good laughs as we are babied through a basic script.\nSadly, the extras are terrible. A comedy with Murphy needs a gag reel, but there was no such thing on this DVD (although I found one on the "Norbit" Web site). The only reason the extras are even worth taking a glance at is for a few extra jokes from the pimps in the deleted scenes. Besides that, the extras are disappointing.\nAll in all, if you don't want to think and just want a few quick laughs, then make some popcorn, get comfy and enjoy "Norbit" ... as a rental.