The Nutty Professor (1996)
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A kind-hearted professor's life changes when he tests a weight-loss serum that creates a bold, confident alter ego.
The story
Sherman Klump, a morbidly obese and kind-hearted professor at Wellman College, develops an experimental formula designed to make weight loss easier. After being mocked by a comedian during a date with Carla Purty, a chemistry graduate who admires his work, Sherman decides to test the serum on himself. The transformation is instantaneous, causing him to lose 250 pounds. However, the physical change is accompanied by a shift in personality. Sherman begins to inhabit a new, super-confident persona named 'Buddy Love.' As the two identities begin to clash, Sherman must navigate the complications of his new life while trying to maintain his integrity and his relationship with Carla.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Sherman Klump, a kind-hearted but obese professor at Wellman College, creates a serum to aid weight loss. After being mocked by comedian Reggie Warrington, Sherman tests the serum on himself and instantly loses 250 pounds. This transformation creates 'Buddy Love,' a confident, high-testosterone alter ego that begins to take over Sherman's life and career. Buddy gains the attention of wealthy businessman Harlan Hartley and the college dean, but his reckless behavior leads to Carla Purty, Sherman's love interest, dumping him. To regain control, Sherman and his assistant Jason attempt to destroy the remaining serum samples. However, Buddy hides a sample in a diet shake, and Sherman accidentally consumes it, transforming again. At a high-stakes Alumni Ball, Buddy's testosterone levels reach a dangerous level. A physical confrontation between the two identities occurs in front of a shocked audience. Sherman eventually emerges as his true self, confessing his actions to his parents and Carla. While they do not immediately start a romance, they remain friends. Ultimately, Sherman is rehired by the dean, and Hartley provides the promised donation to the science department.
- First release year
- 1996
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tom Shadyac
- Writers
- David Sheffield · screenplay; Barry W. Blaustein · screenplay; Tom Shadyac · screenplay; Steve Oedekerk · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Eddie Murphy · Sherman Klump; Jada Pinkett · Carla Purty; James Coburn · Harlan Hartley; Dave Chappelle · Reggie Warrington
- Genres
- science fiction; comedy
- Themes
- identity; self-acceptance
- Tone and mood
- comedy; slapstick
- Premise and plot tags
- transformation; dual identity; medical experiment
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1963 film starring Jerry Lewis
- Franchise connections
- Nutty Professor
- Content notes
- slapstick
- Reception
- The film was a commercial and critical success, receiving generally positive reviews for its humor and Eddie Murphy's performance in dual roles.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 65% · scale: percentage · review count: 57; Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 20
- Awards and nominations
- Best Makeup · Academy Awards · 69th · Won; Best Actor · Golden Globe Awards · 54th · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film's success spawned a sequel released in 2000.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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