Josef Powell Movies
A meek and lovable milquetoast married to an overbearing, overweight tyrant finds his life turned upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams in this romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Eddie Griffin. His entire life, Norbit (Murphy) has been picked on and put down, and after being bullied into marrying the most obnoxious woman in town (also Murphy) it appears as if that's the way things will remain until the day he dies. Upon meeting the one woman who seems to accept him for who he is, Norbit is instilled with a newfound sense of hope for the future. In order to find true happiness, however, Norbit will first have to gather the courage to stand up to his monstrous spouse once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy
Comedian Eddie Murphy tried something different with this 1995 film that he produced and co-wrote, enlisting veteran horror director Wes Craven to give the story some chills. The uneven comedy-horror tale features Murphy as a vampire named Maximillian who arrives in Brooklyn on a ship full of people who have been brutally murdered. One of the corpses on board closely resembles that of Rita (Angela Bassett), one of the detectives assigned to the case. Maximillian targets Rita, hoping to get a dance with her that will bring her under his control. He enlists the help of a worker named Julius (Kadeem Hardison), biting his neck and turning him into a slowly decaying ghoul. Also seeking to romance Rita, though in a less sinister way, is her longtime detective partner Justice (Allen Payne). Maximillian uses his supernatural powers to interfere with the budding romance. Murphy also plays a preacher and an Italian gangster in this bizarre film. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, (more)
- 1990
It's Christmas Time at the Wayne family household, and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) has brought Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell) along to join the celebration. Anxious to make a good impression on Dwayne's mom Adele (Patti LaBelle), Whitley buys her an expensive gift. Alas, not only is Adele unimpressed, but the gift ends up being ripped off by a phony Santa Claus (Stanley Brocks). Meanwhile, Ron is still on the outs with his dad for turning down the opportunity to join the family business. Guest star Patti LaBelle sing "Nothing Could Be Better". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When a quintet of college classmates take summer jobs, their adventures lead to comic consequences. Max (Paul Reiser) gets a job working for the Cabrizzi Brothers moving company. Dwight (Robert Townsend) and Byron (Paul Provenza) become caddies, while Woody (Scott McGinnis) waits tables and Roy (Rick Overton) sells vacuum cleaners door-to-door. When all five get fired from their jobs, they combine forces to form a moving company in direct competition with the Cabrizzi Brothers. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reiser, Robert Townsend, (more)
- 1973
Don Jones, best known to horror fans for co-directing The Love Butcher (1975), made this peculiar private-prison film starring Gary Kent as an impotent, inbred cretin who lives in an isolated house. His retarded brother kidnaps women and chains them in the cellar, sometimes putting a leash on them and forcing them to participate in degrading, animalistic behavior. Genre aficionados will recognize Tom Kelly from the classic Targets (1968) and Merrie Lynn Ross from Class of '84 (1982), but others will find little to enjoy in this amateurish sickie. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
