The Nutty Professor (1996)

Grossly overweight yet good-hearted professor Sherman Klump takes a special chemical that turns him into the slim but obnoxious Buddy Love.

Director:

Tom Shadyac

Writers:

Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond

Stars:

Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett Smith, James Coburn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Murphy	...	Sherman Klump / Buddy Love / Lance Perkins / Papa Klump / Mama Klump / Grandma Klump / Ernie Klump
Jada Pinkett Smith	...	Carla Purty (as Jada Pinkett)
James Coburn	...	Harlan Hartley
Larry Miller	...	Dean Richmond
Dave Chappelle	...	Reggie Warrington
John Ales	...	Jason
Patricia Wilson	...	Dean's Secretary
Jamal Mixon	...	Ernie Klump Jr.
Nichole McAuley	...	Fit Woman
Hamilton von Watts	...	Health Instructor (as Hamilton Von Watts)
Chao Li Chi	...	Asian Man (as Chao-Li Chi)
Tony Carlin	...	Host
Quinn Duffy	...	Bartender
Montell Jordan	...	Self
Doug Williams	...	Band Leader

Storyline

Brilliant and obese scientist Sherman Klump invents a miraculous weight-loss solution. After a date with chemistry student Carla Purty goes badly, a depressed Klump tries the solution on himself. Though he instantly loses 250 pounds, the side effects include a second personality: an obnoxiously self-assertive braggart who calls himself Buddy Love. Buddy proves to be more popular than Sherman, but his arrogance and bad behavior quickly spiral out of control.

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Plot Keywords:

overweight | scientist | teacher | fat insult | split personality | 

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Taglines:

Inside Sherman Klump, a party animal is about to break out.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude humor and sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dave Chappelle said that Eddie Murphy complimented his standup work on his first day on the set. Chappelle really took that to heart as he cited Murphy as being a major influence on his career.

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Goofs

Jason appears to be able to open the passenger door from the outside of Buddy Love's Dodge Viper to get in. First generation Vipers never came equipped with exterior door handles.

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Quotes

Buddy Love: What's wrong with that breath? I can smell it over here! Reggie, your breath is so stinky, people look forward to your farts. Breath smells like shit! Do you smell shit?
[sniffs]
Buddy Love: I SMELL SHIT!

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Crazy Credits

During the credits, outtakes are shown.

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Alternate Versions

When Sherman Klump opens the drawer in his desk and reveals the secret compartment containing all the candy, there is a row of 'Snickers' bars on the top. In some T.V. versions, at least in the UK, the word 'Snickers' is digitally altered to 'Chocky'.

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Connections

Referenced in The Sci-Fi Boys (2006)

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Soundtracks

Bounce 2 This
Written by Montell Jordan and Schappell Crawford
Performed by Montell Jordan featuring Kadence
Courtesy of Rush Associated Labels Recordings

User Reviews

A very charming film

In a performance reminiscent of Peter Sellers in `Dr. Strangeglove,' Eddie Murphy turns in a tour de farce in `The Nutty Professor.' This was a film I had intended to see for a decade and I was certainly not disappointed when I finally rented it.

Murphy provides a charming performance as shy, gentlemanly fat man, Prof. Sherman Klump. One cannot help rooting for the 400-pound professor to woo foxy grad student Carla Purty (Jada Pinkett Smith), rather than egomaniacal alter ego Buddy Love. Larry Miller is also fun as the smiling but malevolent Dean Richmond – a type role he has played several times before.

Of course the special effects wowed audiences in 1991 and they are still quite impressive. I haven't seen the 1963 Jerry Lewis version – and pray I never have to, but I doubt that it had the charm of this production. Pinkett Smith adds not only beauty, but a warm grace and dignity to an otherwise chaotic scene of runaway gerbils, wild night spots and bizarre potions. David Chappelle, meanwhile, is entertaining as obnoxious stand-up comic Reggie Warrington. And, of course, there are the Klumps. Murphy outdoes himself as Sherman's dysfunctional, farting family. While I have no real desire to see the 2000 sequel, which apparently focuses on the Klump family, they do add some fun to the film.

Overall, I would call `The Nutty Professor' a solid comedy with plenty of laughs, lots of charm, and even a bit of a message.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Universal Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Nutty Professor

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$54,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,411,725, 30 June 1996

Gross USA:

$128,814,019

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$273,961,019

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1