When the good Lord made you, He made you beautiful inside and out.
69th Academy Awards (1997)
Won:
1) Best Make- up
The movie was based on another movie from 1963, with the same title. But this version is more updated. Instead of using the all white cast as they did in the 1963 version, in this version the cast is predominately black. Eddie Murphy played numerous roles in this film including the title character Professor Sherman Klump and his alter ego Buddy Love including the family members in the Klump family.
Professor Klump, an obese genetics professor, is conducting research on obesity. The rather shy professor develops feelings for a graduate student named Carla Purty who’s a big fan of his work. He mustered up the courage to ask her on a date to a restaurant/club that Carla suggested called “The Scream”
Meanwhile, Sherman daydreams of her and fears that he may crush her to death with his big body so he decides to lose weight. He tried multiple diets, various exercises, seeing a chiropractor to manipulate his hunger, and cutting back on greasy food.It was hard for him since his dysfunctional family teases him thus lowering his self esteem.
On his date with Carla, they shared stories and laughter while enjoying the live music. When the next performer came on, a comedian named Reggie Warrington, Sherman tries to excuse himself in fear that Reggie may target him as the butt of his jokes. But, his attempt was unsuccessful. Reggie taunted him about his weight, embarrassing the professor in front his date.
This was the last straw for Sherman. He locked himself in the lab and started formulating a concoction that will make him loose all his excess weight.
(the professor drinking the concoction)
When he wakes up, Sheldon transforms into a thin petite man called Buddy Love. He introduces himself to others as the professor’s assistant. Buddy love is the complete opposite of Sheldon Klump. He’s loud, obnoxious, rude, and brash.
(Buddy Love holding the formula)
Carla goes on a date with Buddy after Professor Klump encouraged her to so since he figures that she would want to be with a more healthy man. On their date to “The Scream,” Buddy drives recklessly and comes to their date an hour late. Meanwhile, Reggie was performing that day. Even before Reggie could say anything, Buddy laughs obnoxiously non-stop, interrupting the performance. Reggie became mad at attempted to insult Buddy but because of Buddy’s laughter, the audience did not hear. In turn, Buddy starts insulting Reggie but he caught the attention of the audience. Reggie even attempted to fight him on the stage but Buddy was able to knock him out while making it entertaining for his audience.
The concotion wears off and Buddy leaves abruptly. Sherman who has a hangover from Buddy’s drinking goes to work the next day where the dean of the college approaches him and tells him that he arranged dinner for himself, the professor and Harlan Hartley, a rich benefactor who will donate a substantial amount of money to the college if he likes Sherman’s research. This is pretty big for the dean of course who needs the money for the school to thrive but also for Professor Klump since he could share his work with the public.
But, there’s a conflict. Buddy has another date with Carla at the same day and time as the dinner with Harlan Hartly. But Buddy’s selfishness overpowers the professor’s thoughts and action, forcing him to drink the concoction and go on the date.
While waiting in the lobby of the hotel, the dean who was there sees Carla and asks Carla about the whereabouts of Professor Klump who was already late. Carla, worried that the professor’s long research might go to waste, offers Buddy as a replacement since he’s familiar with the research. Buddy reluctantly agrees thus winning the approval of Hartley. The dean even offers Buddy the professor’s job and invites him to the alumni ball. Buddy neglects his date and starts flirting with three other women, which upsets Carla.
The next day, Carla visits the professor feeling responsible that she may have been the cause that the professor lost his job. She sees the professor with other girls, who she recognized from the other night. She then accuses the professor for objectifying and sharing women like Buddy.
The concoction is actually dangerous for his body because of its high levels of testosterone. Disregarding the advise of his assistant, Jason, he took the concoction once more. During the ball, the Buddy starts presenting the professor’s research but is interrupted by the professor from within trying to fight him off. The crowd witnesses the transformation of Buddy Love to the the Professor which of course surprises everyone.
Professor Sherman Klump realizes that in order to love another, one must love and accept themselves for who they are. Carla Purty, loves him for the way he is. And the movie ends with the two dancing.
Overall, the movie seems like a movie a person watches just to pass the time. There is nothing spectacular about it. The storyline was bland, even though it did have a good moral lesson. Eddie Murphy’s acting was more obnoxious than anything. Jada Pinkett’s performance was satisfactory but it was not her best performance. The only the movie had going for it was the make- up. I agree that with the ones who voted to give this film the Academy Award for Best-make-up.
In my opinion, if it were not for the make-up, this movie would have never even been nominated for an academy award.
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By the way, Eddie Murphy was supposed to host the next Academy Award Ceremony but he decline only a few months before the ceremony. I was utterly disappointed when I heard the news because i was actually looking forward to it. I’m not actually sure of the details but from what I understand, the director of Tower Heist, a movie in which Murphy was in said a derogatory remark about homosexuals. As a result, he was fired. Murphy then announced that he too will not be part of the upcoming ceremony, maybe because he wanted to defend his friend. Anyways, I feel that the Academy Awards have had too many white host for the past years, like where’s the diversity? Billy Crystal is now going to host the event.
