The Nutty Professor (1996)

5.7PG-1391 minDirector: Tom Shadyac

1996 American film

The Nutty Professor is a 1996 American comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as the titular character. It is a remake of the 1963 film of the same name, which starred Jerry Lewis. The remake, directed by Tom Shadyac, co-stars Jada Pinkett, James Coburn, Larry Miller, Dave Chappelle, and John Ales. Filming began on May 8, 1995, and concluded on September 8, 1995. The original music score was composed by David Newman.

Murphy portrays a university professor, Sherman Klump, a brainy and kind-hearted obese man who weighs 400 pounds. A research scientist, academic, and lecturer, Klump develops a miraculous, but experimental, weight-loss pharmaceutical, and hoping to win the affection of the girl of his dreams, tests it upon himself. Just like Julius Kelp from the original film, Klump's vigorous, charismatic, but evil alter ego takes the name "Buddy Love". Murphy plays a total of seven characters in the film, including Sherman and most of Sherman's family. Sherman's nephew is the only member of the family not to be portrayed by Eddie Murphy.

The film was a box-office hit and received positive reviews, with critics particularly praising the makeup and Murphy's performance. It won Best Makeup at the 69th Academy Awards. The film's success spawned a sequel, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, released in 2000.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Nutty Professor about?
The Nutty Professor (1996) — 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:
Is The Nutty Professor based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Nutty Professor scary?
Content rating: PG-13. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.