Review of The Nutty Professor (1996) by Claire D — 19 Feb 2011

It might be an extremely silly and nonsensical comedy that's full of fat and fart jokes, but if there's credit to give, it's that this remake popularized this kind of comedy. But this movie does have a redeeming social commentary.

This remake of the classic '60s movie goes in an entirely different direction with it's comedy. Staring the talented Eddie Murphy, The Nutty Professor is about a brilliant but obese university professor who, in order to make himself more attractive to his crush, injests a serum that will make him thin. But is he still the same man as he was before? Though the movie is full of physical comedy and cheap humour, there is a personal social commentary to it that deals with self esteem, what we do to feel better and how not being happy and true to ourselves can hurt us more than help us.

It's not the best made movie out there, but this movie should get it's highest credit for the makeup and film editing. Eddie Murphy once again plays multiple characters, but The Nutty Professor goes one step further that ever. Eddie Murphy doesn't just take an entirely different character and form, but because of the brilliant editing, it looks like he is really interacting with himself. It's a 'see it to believe it' movie, but what this film achieved as far as it's editing and makeup is very impressive.

You have to give Eddie Murphy some credit too. His ability as a character actor is incredable. And as his alter ego, Buddy Love, he gives an excentric preformance. (and Buddy Love, to me, is one of the most underrated villians in movies) Though the comedy is silly, the movie isn't entirely silly. It still shows a softer side that is easy on the eyes, but the comedy is still worth your time.