It’s inevitable. After many actors have Oscar-winning performances in brilliant films, they go and do something stupid just for the money.

Take Halle Berry – after her historic Best Actress win for Monster’s Ball, she went on to become Catwoman. Cuba Gooding Jr., after his performance in Jerry Maguire earned a Best Supporting Actor staTuesday, decided it would be a good idea to star in Snow Dogs.

And now it’s Eddie Murphy’s turn.

The film industry is starting to show respect for him, after his brilliant performance as James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls – which deservingly has him pegged for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

One would think his next move would be equally respectable. And one would be wrong. His next movie is Norbit. Like many of his preceding films, this cinematic masterpiece requires Murphy to play multiple characters and wear fat suits while doing so.

Norbit stars Murphy as the title character, a man so nerdy he wears his glasses while in the shower. Mild-mannered Norbit grew up without his parents who, tastefully, threw him out of a moving car onto the steps of an orphanage. This facility, run by an Asian man named Mr. Wong, is called the Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage.

Murphy also stars as Norbit’s wife, Rasputia, who happens to be on the heavy side. Heavy here is an understatement, and we are reminded of this fact every five seconds throughout the movie. Not a single one of these fat jokes is even remotely funny.

After the exposition is spewed out, the plot seems even more unnecessary. Norbit’s childhood girlfriend Kate (the impeccable Thandie Newton) moves back into town; the only caveat is that she is engaged to Deion, played by Gooding Jr. It’s truly tragic that such strong actors are wasting their time with Norbit.

Apparently, however, money speaks louder than artistic credibility.

-Megan Friedman

Grade: D