Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
***
Rated on a 4-star
scale
Screening venue: Odeon (Liverpool City Centre)
Released in the UK by UIP on October 6, 2000; certificate 12; 106 minutes;
country of origin USA; aspect ratio 1.85:1
Directed by Peter Segal; produced by Brian
Grazer. Written by Barry W. Blaustein, David Sheffield,
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz; from a story by Barry W.
Blaustein, Steve Oedekerk, David Sheffield. Photographed
by Dean Semler; edited by William Kerr.
CAST.....
Eddie Murphy..... Professor Sherman Klump/ Cletus 'Papa' Klump/ Anna
'Mamma' Klump/ Buddy Love/ Ernie Klump/ Grandma Klump/ Lance Perkins
Janet Jackson..... Professor Denise Gaines
Larry Miller..... Dean Richmond
John Ailes..... Jason
You will recall from the 1996 version of "The
Nutty Professor" that Eddie Murphy plays the timid, overweight scientist
Sherman Klump, who unleashed a thin, uncouth alter-ego named Buddy Love when
attempting to create a slimming drug. In the sequel, "Nutty Professor
II: The Klumps", Buddy Love is back -- Sherman has attempted to extract
the faulty one of his genes which allows Buddy to exist, but this has caused
Sherman's intelligence to degenerate, and besides, Buddy now has his own
body, after his gene got mixed with a dog hair that filled in the necessary
missing DNA.
Following the plot? Yes, no, it doesn't matter.
The story is just an excuse for Murphy to act both clever and stupid as Sherman,
and charming and crazy as Buddy, as the character switches between human
and canine tendencies. On the one hand Buddy is a cruel, suave Mr. Hyde figure;
on the other, he urinates against lampposts and sniffs poodle's
butts.
"Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" is essentially
a sketch-show update of its predecessor. It cheerfully cuts between characters
without any regard for continuity; the screenplay announces that it doesn't
give a damn about such matters by relying so heavily on blatantly nonsensical
pseudo-science. (A pile of goo mixed with a dog hair does not turn into a
human.) Murphy plays most of the key roles in the movie, including papa Klump,
mama Klump, grandma Klump and brother Klump. He's able to do this through
remarkably convincing special effects and makeup that deserve the Oscars
they will undoubtedly win. Each of these people is distinctive in their
appearance and behaviour. Comedians need to keep stretching themselves; if
they settle into easy personas, they get tiresome. It's a brave and invigorating
thing for Murphy to star as seven people.
Murphy has to take on the characteristics of a
kindly genius, a moronic cad, a slob patriarch, an insipid matriarch, a horny
old woman, a middle-aged loudmouth and an effeminate white aerobics instructor.
One of his gifts as a stand-up performer is imitating different types of
people. "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" is simply a showcase for that, which
plugs its characters into gags about obesity, impotence, flatulence, psychotic
disorders and bestiality. After waiting in vain for "Me, Myself & Irene"
to go wild, this was refreshing to see.
"Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" is not a good
enough picture for me to violate my principles as a critic, but I can't think
of any other way to review it. I have to be vague, shallow, rambling... because
what can I say? Analysing the humour will require examples of the jokes.
That could ruin your enjoyment of them. It's that kind of movie, formlessly
and rapidly throwing meaningless gags at us. You'll see what I mean. More
importantly, you'll laugh.
COPYRIGHT© 2000 Ian
Waldron-Mantgani
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