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It’s Been Ten Years Since Brian Wilson Said His Favorite Movie Was Norbit

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 30: Brian Wilson performs at Salle Pleyel on October 30, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns)

Ten years ago today, one of the most important blog posts in recent American history was published. Beach Boys enthusiast Michael Leddy highlighted an important section of an obscure, now-offline Brian Wilson interview in the Asbury Park Press, in which Wilson revealed his favorite movie: Eddie Murphy’s 2007 multiple-personality, fat-joke-steeped comedy Norbit.

In the typically terse interview, Wilson explained not only that the Brian Robbins-directed comedy was the film he’d most recently seen and enjoyed, but that it was also the best film he’d ever seen and enjoyed. Here, for posterity, is the exchange the writer of “Heroes and Villains,” “God Only Knows,” and “In My Room” had with interviewer Mark Voger:

Q. Have you seen any good movies lately?

A. Well, I’ve only seen one in the last couple of years. It’s called Norbit by Eddie Murphy.

Q. How did you like it?

A. Fantastic movie. Very funny.

Q. What’s your favorite movie?

A. Norbit.

By 2015, Wilson had changed his mind: He told Consequence of Sound it was PinocchioThankfully, it seems as if Wilson meant the original animated Disney film, and not the Roberto-Benigni-directed live-action version from 2002 which boasts a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Norbit holds a 9%, and has its moments.