NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE KLUMPS
A Universal Pictures release 

review by C.J. Henderson

Synopsis:  This time around, Professor Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy) has discovered the "fountain of youth," and is in love with a beautiful fellow scientist (Janet Jackson) who loves him back. But, before they can be married, Sherman has a demon he has to exorcize ¯ Buddy Love. The professor is still haunted by the thin egomaniac he released in his first film and, fearing he won't be able to control his inner self's nasty tendencies, he decides to genetically erase Buddy. But, Buddy fights back, managing to not only elude the professor, but to turn the tables on him as  well.

Review: Eddie Murphy once again incredible transformations, playing not only an out-of control version of himself but almost an entire family. And he plays them all at the same time. Make-up king Rick Baker ("Men In Black," "Mighty Joe Young") created Murphy's various looks in the first movie returns to tackle the Herculean task of recreating the star's five hefty personas. Baker, who won five Academy Awards for his make-up work on other films, modestly gives Murphy the lion's share of the credit for how the characters he created turned out in the film.
 
As he told us, "Eddie will say: 'you make a face and I'll make a voice to fit it.' He's not very involved in the look of the characters." But, Baker continued, "Once make-up pieces and body suits are designed, Eddie will sit in the make-up chair moving his face around in front of the mirror, feeling out his new persona so to speak, and learning how much he has to exaggerate  facial expressions to make them read through the rubber. It's really amazing to create a character's appearance and hand it over to Eddie who will then give it a personality. He can make make-up look completely different."  

Of course, make-up that complex requires that characters in this film left Murphy able to only play one character per day. Thus the need for visual effects maestro Jon Farhat, who also worked with Murphy on "The Nutty Professor." In this film, the interaction between the various members of the Klump clan was extremely heightened, posing an incredible level of difficulty for Farhat and his crew.  

Murphy would have to spend one day shooting a scene as one Klump family member, then spend the next day shooting the same scene as another family member, conversing with, touching, et cetera, "himself" from the day before. Farhat would encourage Murphy to be his wildest on the first day of shooting any one scene since any improvising on following days could negate what they had already captured on film. 

Still, all the make-up and prosthetic pieces in the world can't cover a bad actor. No need to worry here. Murphy's famed comic timing serves him well once more as he brings each character to life in truly unique and hilarious ways. Coupled with a good script, there is little an actor of Murphy's caliber can't accomplish.  

And, the key to what makes this film works is its script. Despite the outlandish off-color material that keeps most of the movie going, it all still hangs on an extremely serious story. Sherman Klump is a man terrified of his own inner demon ¯ terrified to the point where he is willing to tamper with his own genetic code to be rid of it. All done in the name of love, his fear makes him more and more pathetic as he begins to lose his entire world. Murphy gets across Sherman's desperation and loneliness in a number of highly dramatic scenes which are extremely touching and seemingly almost out of character for the one-time blue comedian.  

Two other things which must be mentioned. First off: Janet Jackson's wonderful star turn. Ms. Jackson is highly entertaining, delivering her rocket scientist dialogue as if she spent her life at M.I.T. She is sharp, warm and highly professional, delivering a performance heads above those of  several other singer/actresses whose names we won't mention.  

The other thing we have to bring up, however, is the one fly in the ointment for families thinking of going to this one. The film is more than a little off-color. Now, if jokes about obscenely horny old women who's breasts have sagged so low she can step on them when bending over in the shower aren't too much for your clan, then head off to see this one whenever you like. If not, it might be time for a baby-sitter.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
www.klumps.com

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