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BY MAGGIE SCOTT

Although he could be considered this generation’s Lon Chaney, and although he’s been nominated for an Oscar, you are going to feel ashamed of Eddie Murphy for the work he does in his latest comedy, “Norbit.” Murphy’s genius for characterizations, helped by the amazing advances in full-body prosthetics and makeup, means he can convincingly be any gender, many ages and any race.

This talent is put to briefly amusing use here in the various characters that Murphy portrays: a domineering woman, a nerdish young man and an aging, ornery Asian.

But, sadly, aside from a certain Forrest Gump charm to Norbit, there is not one character, or one plot line, that isn’t an annoying embarrassment. Once the initial derisive laughter erupts at first seeing Eddie as a 300 pound female battle ax, there is not much to laugh about in a story whose primary objective appears to be poking juvenile, tiresome fun at morbidly obese women.

Rasputia (Eddie) makes Norbit’s life, if not hell, at least purgatory; with her tyrannical, high-decibel, drill sergeant approach to marital life. Her muscle-bound brothers reinforce the control Rasputia has had over Norbit ever since she cracked heads on the playground to protect him and told the trusting little boy from Mr. Wong’s orphanage that she was his girlfriend.

Trouble is, Norbit is carrying a torch for Kate, the little girl he “married” under Mr. Wong’s backyard tree so many years ago; and she (Thandie Newton) is about to walk back into his life.

In the movie’s one moment of authentic humanity, “Norbit” substitutes for Kate’s missing groom (Cuba Gooding, Jr. in a beneath-his-dignity role) at the wedding rehearsal with vows straight from his heart.

Otherwise, “Norbit” is pretty much bereft of scenes that inspire anything more redeeming than a person’s most base responses, like rooting big time for Rasputia’s comeuppance.
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