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. | |
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Nichole McAuley | ... | Fit Woman |
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Hamilton von Watts | ... | Health Instructor (as Hamilton Von Watts) |
Chao Li Chi | ... | Asian Man (as Chao-Li Chi) | |
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Tony Carlin | ... | Host |
Quinn Duffy | ... | Bartender | |
Montell Jordan | ... | Self | |
Doug Williams | ... | Band Leader |
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. Written by Jwelch5742
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.