Norbit

KathrynHopper, says:

I didn’t want to go to this movie, but was forced into it when…

We went to San Antonio over Spring break.

It rained every day we were there.

Fiesta Texas was mobbed even though the new Tony Hawk roller coaster was closed due to lightening so my three sons voted to blow off our planned day there.

So on a rainy Tuesday we ended up in line at an Austin Highway multiplex with the following choices:

300 – “Too violent,” I told them.

Bridge to Terabithia – “Too girly,” the boys said.

Words and Music – “Yeah, right mom!!” they groaned.

So we were left with “Norbit.” Now I know some moms would have properly packed the kids back in the minivan, but I was - I repeat - desperate! So $32 in tickets and close to $50 in popcorn, soda and candy, in we went.

It was bad. I knew the Eddie Murphy flick had been universally labeled “mean-spirited” by every respectable critic and been generally blamed for his Best Supporting Oscar loss to Alan Arkin. Still, I was ever hopeful.

But in the first 10 minutes, the movie managed to insult: black people in general and black babies in particular, Asian Americans, women, the handicapped, overweight people and Italian-Americans.

The saddest thing is that my three sons – ages 8 to 14 – loved it. They though the fat jokes (like when Murphy’s Rasputia repeatedly hits the car horn anytime she gets in the driver’s seat) were hilarious.

The crude humor, titillating sexual innuendo and general bigotry of this film were disgusting. The tagline for the film’s promo poster is “Have you ever made a big mistake?”

Yeah, taking my kids to see this crap!