The Nutty Professor Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A fat professor turns into a skinny jerk to get a girl, but then realizes being himself, farts and all, is better…probably.

🍿 The Nutty Professor: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction of Sherman Klump

Sherman Klump, a kind-hearted but morbidly obese genetics professor, struggles with his weight and yearns for a romantic connection. He is dedicated to his research on DNA restructuring for weight loss and is well-liked by his students. However, he faces constant ridicule due to his size, particularly from the college dean and the general public.

The Weight-Loss Serum and Buddy Love

Driven by his insecurities and a desire to win the affection of Carla Purty, a chemistry graduate student, Sherman experiments on himself with his new weight-loss serum. The serum successfully transforms him into Buddy Love, a slim, charismatic, but arrogant and obnoxious alter ego. Buddy quickly gains popularity and attracts Carla’s attention.

Buddy’s Destructive Behavior and Sherman’s Struggle

As Buddy Love becomes more dominant, his behavior spirals out of control, causing chaos and damaging Sherman’s reputation. He takes credit for Sherman’s work, insults colleagues, and alienates Carla with his increasingly aggressive and womanizing actions. Sherman finds himself struggling to control Buddy and prevent him from permanently taking over.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy): A kind-hearted, obese professor who creates a weight-loss serum to win the affection of a colleague.
• Buddy Love (Eddie Murphy): Sherman’s arrogant and obnoxious alter ego, created by the weight-loss serum.
• Carla Purty (Jada Pinkett Smith): A chemistry graduate student who is both admired and pursued by Sherman and Buddy.
• Dean Richmond (Larry Miller): The Dean of Wellman College, primarily concerned with funding and appearances.
• Jason (John Ales): Sherman’s loyal assistant who helps him with his research and tries to control Buddy Love.
• Reggie Warrington (Dave Chappelle): An insult comic who publicly humiliates Sherman, triggering his transformation.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sherman Klump: “I could try to lose weight, but I’m always going to be a fat man, and you’re just going to have to live with that.” – Sherman says this to Carla, accepting himself for who he is at the film’s climax.
• Buddy Love: “How do you like me now?!” – Buddy Love’s catchphrase, exclaimed after his transformation and during his arrogant displays.
• Papa Klump: “Sherman, I’m gonna clean mine. There. Now my colon is clean. I’m talking squeaky clean.” – Papa Klump responds to a conversation about colon cleansing by farting loudly at the dinner table.
• Reggie Warrington: “I’m Reggie Warrington, and I’m here all week! Try the veal!” – Reggie says this during his stand-up act before heckling Sherman.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $54,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $128,814,019
• Worldwide Gross: $273,961,019

💥 The Nutty Professor Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching ‘The Nutty Professor’ as a kid and being blown away by Eddie Murphy playing everyone! It’s a really good movie for a laugh. The Klump family dinner scenes are legendary. Sometimes the humor is a bit much but overall, it’s great.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Eddie Murphy’s comedic performances.”
  • “Viewers who enjoy 90s comedies with slapstick and crude humor.”
  • “People interested in films exploring themes of self-acceptance and body image.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Frequent fart jokes and other crude humor.”
  • “Some suggestive content and language.”
  • “Bullying and fat shaming themes may be triggering for some viewers.”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Murphy’s multiple performances are a technical marvel, and some jokes land, but the reliance on fat suits and crude humor feels dated. The film has heart, but the execution is uneven.
• The New York Times: “Eddie Murphy showcases his versatility, but the script veers between slapstick and surprisingly poignant moments. It’s an admirable effort that’s entertaining, though never achieving true comedic brilliance.
• RogerEbert.com: “Roger Ebert praised Murphy’s performance in playing multiple roles. Ebert highlighted the films heartful moments.

Audience Reactions

Eddie Murphy’s performance as the entire Klump family is iconic and hilarious.: Viewers consistently praise Eddie Murphy’s versatility and the memorable Klump family scenes.

The movie is heartwarming and has a good message about body positivity.: Many find the film surprisingly touching, despite the often crude humor.

Overall Consensus: Despite some dated humor, ‘The Nutty Professor’ is fondly remembered for Eddie Murphy’s tour-de-force performance and heartwarming message.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Makeup)- 1997
2. BAFTA Award (Best Make Up/Hair)- 1997

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Eddie Murphy plays seven different characters in the film: Sherman Klump, Buddy Love, Papa Klump, Mama Klump, Grandma Klump, Ernie Klump Sr., and Lance Perkins. The makeup effects were so extensive that Eddie Murphy would spend hours in the makeup chair each day.”
• “Dave Chappelle’s stand-up routine at ‘The Scream’ was largely improvised, adding to the raw and edgy humor of the scene.”
• “Rick Baker, the makeup artist, won an Academy Award for his work on the film, showcasing the incredible transformation effects.”
• “The film is a remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis film of the same name, though it takes a more modern and comedic approach.”
• “Biltmore Hotel in Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA was used as one of the filming locations.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Nutty Professor?

The Nutty Professor (1996) is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Digital purchase provides the flexibility to watch anytime, while rentals offer a more budget-friendly option for a limited viewing window.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Nutty Professor, you might like these similar films:

• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941): Classic story exploring the duality of human nature, a direct inspiration for ‘The Nutty Professor’.
• Multiplicity (1996): A comedy about a man who clones himself to cope with his busy life, similar to the split-personality theme.
• Big (1988): Features a character undergoing a magical transformation with both humorous and heartfelt consequences, era specific.
• Shallow Hal (2001): Explores themes of physical appearance and inner beauty, similar to ‘The Nutty Professor’ but with a different narrative approach.
• Coming to America (1988): Another Eddie Murphy comedy where he plays multiple roles with prosthetics and makeup for comedic effect.

🛒 The Nutty Professor Related Products

• The Nutty Professor [Blu-ray]: Relive the laughs in high definition with this Blu-ray edition. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, and interviews with the cast and crew.
• Eddie Murphy: Raw: Get a raw, uncensored look at Eddie Murphy’s stand-up comedy with this digital download. Experience Murphy’s comedic genius at its finest.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Movie-Inspired): A stunning representation of the original story this movie is based on. Perfect for any collector.
• Eddie Murphy Adult Coloring Book: Features Eddie Murphy in all his most iconic movie roles. Offers hours of creative fun and relaxation.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Nutty Professor features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Macho Man” – performed by The Village People

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Old vs New: Nutty Professor – Nostalgia Critic

If you’re a fan of either version of The Nutty Professor, you’ll love this hilarious and thought-provoking comparison from the Nostalgia Critic.

✨ Rate