Professor Sherman Klump learns the hard way that looks are not everything.
Rating: 6/10
Running Time: 91 minutes
UK Certificate: 12
On DVD
Eddie Murphy stars as Professor Sherman Klump, a pleasant but hugely corpulent university professor doing genetic research into metabolism and weight loss. Rather incompetent in daily life, he is at least an expert in his field of science and his experimental formula shows great promise. However, when he meets the woman of his dreams, his colleague Professor Carla Purty (Jada Pinkett), he becomes fed up with his bulk and wants to impress her. In the hopes of losing weight, he tests his formula on himself, transforming into a suave but testosterone-fuelled womaniser whom he dubs "Buddy Love".
Buddy is not like his alter-ego, however. He is rude and brash, driven by his artificially-raised testosterone, and gets into all sorts of trouble. He wants Carla for himself, although Carla would prefer the mild-mannered Sherman. Buddy is also not happy with the situation that requires him to turn back into Sherman when the formula wears off. He plots to overdose on the formula, which will permanently rid him of Sherman forever. Sherman must get to the formula before Buddy can use it, if he is not to lose himself and Carla as well.
Fine special effects characterise this remake of the Jerry Lewis classic. Eddie Murphy is in enthusiastic form, playing almost all the members of the Klump family in addition to alter-ego Buddy Love. Murphy is very much the driving force behind the comedy, most of which comes off very successfully, although the Klump family fart jokes do start to get a bit wearing. The simple plot holds few surprises, although it serves well enough as a framework to support the humour. Perhaps not quite the equal of its predecessor, nonetheless it is generally successful in generating laughs.
It's Got: Eddie Murphy sparkling as more than half-a-dozen different characters.
It Needs: Fewer fart jokes.
DVD Extras Fairly basic extras with this single-disc release. Extras: Production notes, Cast and filmmakers notes, Theatrical trailer. DVD Extras Rating: 3/10
Summary
An occasionally silly but often witty remake with plenty of crude humour.