Eddie Murphy is getting Oscar buzz for his work in Dreamgirls, but if he actually wants a shot at winning a statue, maybe he should consider delaying the release of Norbit. It could well be the worst movie of his career, and that’s saying something. Remember this is the guy that made Pluto Nash. The movie is due out at the beginning of February, and if it’s released then it’ll be the last thing Oscar voters see Eddie in before they cast their ballots. It’s not going to help his case.

So forgive me if I get a little suspicious when I hear that Paramount and Dreamworks are in a battle with the MPAA over what to rate Norbit. WENN reports that the MPAA has slapped it with an R-rating, and the studios are appealing the rating demanding a PG-13. I can’t help but wonder if this story is some sort of bizarre setup to excuse delaying the film until after Oscar voting is over, just in case Eddie actually has a shot at winning something.

The MPAA's censors say the movie deserves an R, due to sex-related humor. Either sex or the F word are almost always their fallback position. The folks funding Norbit know that in order to maximize the amount of money they can get out of the film they need a PG-13. An R-rating limits their audience and (theoretically anyway) keeps out brain dead teens who might actually think Eddie Murphy in a fat suit is something original. The appeal is under way, but if the movie shifts release dates while they fight it out, blame the Oscars not the MPAA.