Norbit has never had it easy. As a baby, he was abandoned on the steps of a Chinese restaurant/orphanage and raised by Mr. Wong. Things get worse when he's forced into marriage by the mean, junk food-chugging queen, Rasputia. Just when Norbit's hanging by his last thread, his childhood sweetheart, Kate, moves back to town.

"My name is Norbit Albert Rice and I was an orphan..." Thus begins the story of Norbit (Eddie Murphy), who is brought up by Mr Wong (Eddie Murphy) at the Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage.

Norbit tells the tale of Norbit, who is sent to the orphanage by his parents when he was still a toddler. There, he grows up with other friends, but is attracted to Kate (Thandie Newton). The two become inseparable, that is, until Kate is adopted leaving Norbit behind to begin her new life. One day in school, Norbit is bullied by his schoolmates and Rasputia (Eddie Murphy) comes to lend a helping hand. As they grow older, Rasputia starts to love Norbit and later he becomes part of Rasputia's family.

Norbit's life undergoes a dramatic change when his grown-up and beautiful Kate returns to Boiling Spring. Kate comes back to buy the orphanage from the aging Mr Wong, but she is conned by her adoring fiance, Deion (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who plans to turn the orphanage into a strip club - The Nipplopolis. With the awakening of Norbit's feelings for Kate, he gains a newfound assertiveness - rejecting the downtrodden, learns to dress sharp, please the ladies and ride a bike.

In "Norbit", Eddie Murphy plays Norbit, Rasputia and Mr Wong. He uses his talents to bring these diverse and unforgettable characters to life in a comedy. I would say there is no other way to describe his abilities at taking characters and giving them a voice and a look that is fleshed out inside and out. As for Newton, she plays Kate, who plans to buy over the orphanage and upon meeting Norbit, she confuses who she truly loves- the man who is going to run a business with her or her true soulmate. She is able to bring out the character as well even though she often encounters attacks from Rasputia.

Oh.. did I tell you Rasputia is played by Eddie Murphy too? Well, the fact remains the fact. Though some of you can hardly accept that Rasputia and Norbit are played by the same actor, there is no such thing as impossible in the world of acting. Therefore, I would give a double thumbs-up to the special effects make-up by Rick Baker. His talent can be seen in the movie throughout where he transforms Murphy into two different individuals- the fat and ugly Rasputia and the retiring Mr Wong.

It is funny when Murphy demolishes the sets as Rasputia, the hugely obese wife Norbit's trapped into marrying. Most of the time, she is just eating, watching television, yelling and running around in hot pink outfits. There is also another funny scene where Rasputia is playing a the slide at the water park. When she lands in the pool, the pool is already empty. It is a nonsensical scene, but it is really hilarious.

"Norbit" is quite similar to other ordinary fairy tales where the prince meets the princess, faces difficulties throughout the movie and then lives happily ever after. In "Norbit's" story, he meets his love in the orphanage who leaves him for good and then returns and falls in love with him years later. And as for characters, the first similar fairytale that comes to my mind is "Shrek". Just that they are the opposite of each other.

All in all, this is a not-to-be-missed comedy for Valentine's Day.