Eddie Murphy and Eddie Murphy in "Norbit"
courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment
"Why Eddie Lost The Oscar"

Eddie Murphy was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Dreamgirls." He was the odds on favorite to win. So why did Alan Arkin go home with the statuette instead of him? The answer is "Norbit." When any member of the voting academy got a glimpse of Eddie in "Norbit" they probably struck through his name at once. Any nominee who would put himself and his talent in such a messed up movie as this one didn't deserve serious consideration.

"Norbit" has been released on DVD so you can see for yourself if it was what put the jinx on Murphy's Oscar chances. Murphy takes three roles in the movie and he also co-produced and co-wrote the film. His name is all over it so he has to share the blame for it being such a lifeless embarrassment. The humor is crude and the acting is trivial. Not only does he embarrass himself, he also drags down the good names of Thandie Newton and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Norbit (Murphy) is an orphan. He lives at an orphanage run by Mr. Wong (Murphy). His life is pretty miserable because all the other kids tease and taunt him, but that all changes when he becomes friends with Rasputia (Murphy) a huge girl who strikes fear in any and all who cross her path.

When Norbit and Rasputia grow up they get married, even though in his heart Norbit still longs for his first love Kate (Newton). One day Kate moves back to town to take over the orphanage where she was raised. The sparks fly between Norbit and Kate again but he is married and she is engaged to a con man named Deion (Gooding). It seems there is no way they can be together.

This is a skimpy plot to begin with and so the moviemakers just add on one crude joke or situation after another. Some of them are sexual, some of them have to do with body functions, and all of them are offensive. This is especially true since the movie is rated PG-13 and kids will be begging their parents to let them see the DVD.

"Norbit" is a waste of Murphy's talent and your time. He can certainly do better and ought to. I'd rather see him in something like "Daddy Day Care 2" than in unfunny material such as this.

You have to wonder why respected actors such as Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller, Kristen Stewart and John Corbett would lend their names and talents to an average horror flick like "The Messengers." They all do their parts well in "The Messengers" (now out on DVD) but there is little they can do to raise it above mediocre entertainment. It is a horror flick pure and simple with nothing to make it a classic or even one that stands out from the pack.

The movie starts with the Solomon family moving to North Dakota to set up a sunflower farm. Roy and Denise (McDermott and Miller) have moved to North Dakota to try to help their daughter Jess (Stewart) straighten out her life. She had gotten in with the wrong crowd and had some problems back home. They are also concerned about their two-year-old son Ben (Evan and Theodore Turner) who doesn't speak.

They have bought a creepy old farmhouse and are doing a little bit of renovation, but most of their funds are tied up in sunflower seed. After a few weeks a stranger shows up asking for work. His name is Burwell (Corbett) and he is hired to help out with the crops.

Jess is the first one in the family to notice strange occurrences. She hears noises, sees strange shapes, and generally gets the feeling the house is haunted. She notices that Ben is aware of things too, but since he doesn't speak he can't tell anyone what he sees. Roy and Denise don't see anything and think Jess is imagining it all or lying about it for some reason.

Of course more and more things happen and soon the entire family is in jeopardy. All of this is handled with a good deal of suspense but it is basically run of the mill horror entertainment. If it weren't for the cast it would not make a blip on the entertainment radar.

Stewart is good as Jess. This young actress started her career as Jodie Foster's daughter in "The Panic Room" and has sharpened her talent as she has aged. Now sixteen she is ready for bigger and better roles. Her role as Jess is not a challenge for her.

John Corbett has some good scenes as Burwell. This actor has been around a while and is looking from something to make him stand out. This role and this kind of movie are not what he needs. McDermott and Miller could play their roles with their eyes closed. They are slumming as the mama and papa in a haunted house.

You might want to watch 'The Messengers" but know going in that it is strictly average. Maybe that will be enough for you.

What better way to chill out on a hot summer night than by watching a DVD about werewolves. And that is exactly what you get when you take home "Blood and Chocolate." This is a movie about a young woman (Agnes Bruckner) who comes form a long line of werewolves. The leader (Olivier Martinez) of her pack is very protective of his group and doesn't like it when the woman begins a relationship with an outsider (Hugh Dancy).

So here you have a conflict between love and loyalty. What's a werewolf to do! Watch the DVD and find out. It's fun, it's exciting and it's romantic. All of the actors seem to get into their roles and that makes it more realistic. It's "Blood and Chocolate" and it is a different kind of film.

Zac Efron has to be one of the hottest young stars in Hollywood today thanks to his role in "High School Musical." He also will be seen in "Hairspray" this summer. But for the time being you can also see him in the direct to video movie "The Derby Stallion."

This is a family film about a boy and a horse and is full of good family values. The scenery (it was shot in Georgia) is beautiful, and the acting is surprisingly good from all members of the cast. Bill Cobbs is particularly outstanding as the man who believes in Efron's character and his ability to be a champion steeplechase rider.

This is a DVD the entire family can watch together. It will make for a good family night event. Watch "The Derby Stallion."
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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