The Nutty Professor (franchise)

The Nutty Professor franchise consists of American science fiction-slapstick comedies, including three theatrical films, one straight-to-home video release, a musical stage play, and a theatrical reboot in development. Based on an original story by Jerry Lewis, inspired loosely by Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Nutty Professor
Official franchise logo, as released in 2000
Based onCharacters created by
Jerry Lewis
Release date
1963–present
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget~$146,630,000
(Total of 3 films)
Box office~$459,300,909
(Total of 3 films)[lower-alpha 1]

The plot of each installment centers around individuals with genius-level Intelligence, yet awkward and nerdy social skills. Upon meeting beautiful women, they develop potions that transform them into attractive, confident, sofisticated, albeit villainous alternate personalities who attempt to take over their original counterparts. The series explores the concept of self worth.[1][2][3][4]

The original film was a success both critically and financially, and has earned the status of being regarded as a comedy classic.[5][6] It was ranked #99 by the American Film Institute on its 100 Years...100 Laughs list.[7] A direct-sequel was eventually released in 2008, albeit an animated straight-to-home video release. Lewis reprised his role, though the movie centered around his grandson instead. The film gain little-to-no significant media attention with Common Sense Media providing a 2 out of 5 star rating, and its consensus recommending the original instead.[8] Lewis continued involvement with the franchise as executive producer and the remake film and its sequel, then later served as director of a musical stage production in 2012.[9]

The remake starring Eddie Murphy and released in 1996, was a smash-hit at the box office and attained overall favorable reviews from critics.[10][11] A sequel was released in 2000 to mixed critical reception. Though it fared well financially, it was far from the success of its predecessor.[12][13][14]

A reboot is in development, from Project X Entertainment.[15]

Film
Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
The Nutty Professor June 4, 1963 (1963-06-04) Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis & Bill Richmond Ernest D. Glucksman and Arthur P. Schmidt
The Nutty Professor June 28, 1996 (1996-06-28) Tom Shadyac David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein
and Tom Shadyac & Steve Oedekerk		 Brian Grazer and Russell Simmons
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps July 28, 2000 (2000-07-28) Peter Segal David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein
and Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz		 Steve Oedekerk
and David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein		 Brian Grazer
The Nutty Professor: Facing the Fear November 25, 2008 (2008-11-25) Logan McPherson
& Paul Taylor		 Evan Spiliotopoulos George Paige and Barbara Zelinski
Untitled reboot TBA TBA TBA TBA James Vanderbilt, William Sherak and Paul Neinstein

The Nutty Professor (1963)
Main article: The Nutty Professor (1963 film)

Professor Julius Kelp is a brilliant science teacher, at a university. However, he has a problem with attracting women due to his clumsy, awkward, inarticulate nature. Women deem him as unattractive. Kelp becomes obsessed with impressing a beautiful student named Stella. With his background in chemistry, Kelp decides to develop a potion that will change him into a different person. His new suave alter ego named Buddy Love, is challenged with winning Stella's affections before his short-supply of potion is depleted.[16]

Film historians regard The Nutty Professor as the most memorable film of Lewis’ long career. In 2004, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."[17]

The Nutty Professor (1996)
Main article: The Nutty Professor (1996 film)

Brilliant and obese scientist Sherman Klump invents a miraculous weight-loss solution. After a date with chemistry student Carla Purty goes badly, a depressed Klump tries the solution on himself. Upon taking the potion, Klump instantly loses 250 pounds. The side effects, besides becoming physically fit include a second personality who calls himself Buddy Love and is obnoxiously self-assertive, conceited alternate personality. Buddy proves to be more popular than Sherman, but his arrogance and bad behavior quickly spiral out of control. During these series of events, Klump must decide whether he enjoys popularity, or values self-respect.[18]

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)
Main article: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

After choosing to love himself, over his popular and assertive alternate personality, Professor Sherman Klump has found love in a beautiful and kind woman named Denise. In preparations for their wedding, his undesired alter-ego named Buddy Love begins taking over. Though Klump has ceased taking his self-improving potion, Love continues to present himself and is determined to stay. After a number of appearances, Klump extracts his alternate personality's genes and decides rid the world of his pesky partner, at the risk of his own psychological decline. A laboratory incident including the accidental combination of the genes with dog hair, result in Buddy Love taking on his own existence outside of Klump's body. Unaware of the Love's new existence, the engaged couple begin to perfect a new rejuvenation formula and their fortune seems assured, until Love appears and steals it. Professor Klump's cognitive abilities continue to decline. In a final effort to defeat Buddy Love, the Professor develops a new and more potent formula that will degenerate the villain back to his state of genetic material. Using Love's canine DNA against him, he defeats him with the use of a tennis ball covered in the new potion. As Klump slips away, Denise helps him drink the genetic matter, restoring his genius intellect and resetting everything back to normal. The pair continue to prepare for their wedding, and are married.[19]

The Nutty Professor: Facing the Fear (2008)
Main article: The Nutty Professor (2008 film)

Released as an animated movie, it serves as a legacy-sequel to the original film, it follows the workings of Julius Kelp's grandson.

Harold Kelp is an aspiring inventor, who struggles to perfect his experiments. Intimidated by his grandfather's legacy, Harold has dreams of his failure taking the form of a giant monster. After coming into conflict with a group of angry individuals involved in one of his demonstrations, Harold decides to attend a science academy run by his grandfather, Professor Julius Kelp. Upon arriving at the school, Harold meets a beautiful woman named Polly McGreggor, with whom he becomes infatuated. Determined to win her affection, Harold finds and takes his grandfather's secret potion. The elixir unleashes Harold's confident, self-loving alternate personality that calls himself Jack. Though initially popular with the fellow students, Jack's outrageous behavior gets out of control and causes more mischief than Harold had anticipated. Due to Harold's continued time evolving into Jack, his grades begin slipping. Learning of Harold's actions, Julius once again takes the potion to become Buddy Love. In his alternate form as Buddy Love, Julius teaches his grandson to appreciate who he is and to be comfortable in his own skin. Harold's anxieties are accidentally unleashed by one of Professor Kelp's inventions, as the visionary monster from his nightmares. Harold bravely faces his fears, and defeats the creature. In doing so, Harold says goodbye to Jack once and for all before sharing a kiss with Polly.[20]

Reboot

In August 2020, it was announced that a reboot of The Nutty Professor franchise was in development. James Vanderbilt, William Sherak and Paul Neinstein serve as producers, while the search for additional talent is ongoing. The movie is under development from Project X Entertainment.[15][21][17]

Main cast and characters
Key
  • A dark gray cell indicates the character did not appear in that film.
  • A V indicates the actor or actress lent only their voice for their character.
  • A Y indicates an actor or actress portrayed a younger version of their character.
Character Film
The Nutty Professor (1963) The Nutty Professor (1996) Nutty Professor ll:
The Klumps		 The Nutty Professor:
Facing the Fear
Professor Julius Kelp
Buddy Love		 Jerry Lewis Jerry LewisV
Stella Purdy Stella Stevens
Dr. Mortimer Warfield Del Moore
Millie Lemmon Kathleen Freeman
Warzewski Med Flory
Mr. Elmer Kelp Howard Morris
Mrs. Edwina Kelp Elvia Allman
Professor Sherman Klump
Buddy Love		 Eddie Murphy Eddie Murphy
Myles MasonY
Jeffrey Michael FreemanY
Maurice ColquittY
Kevin Michael MondaneY
Papa Cletus Klump Eddie Murphy
Mama Anna Klump
Grandma Ida Mae Jenson
Ernie Klump, Sr.
Lance Perkins
Ernie Klump, Jr. Jamal Mixon
Jason John Ales
Dean Richmond Larry Miller
Carla Purty Jada Pinkett
Reggie Warrington Dave Chappelle
Harlan Hartley James Coburn
Denise Gaines-Klump Janet Jackson
Leanne Guilford Melinda McGraw
Issac Gabriel Williams
Mr. Gaines Richard Gant
Mrs. Gaines Anna Maria Horsford
Harold Kelp
Jack		 Drake BellV
Robin Tabitha St. GermainV
Polly McGregor Britt IrvinV
Zeke Logan McPhersonV
Ned
Brad Andrew FrancisV
Tad
Dean Von Wu Brian DrummondV
Fear Logan McPhersonV

Additional crew and production details
Film Crew/Detail
Composer Cinematographer Editor(s) Production
companies		 Distributing
company		 Running time
The Nutty Professor Walter Scharf W. Wallace Kelley John Woodcock Paramount Pictures,
Jerry Lewis Films		 Paramount Pictures 1hr 47mins
The Nutty Professor David Newman Julio Macat Don Zimmerman Imagine Entertainment,
Brian Grazer Productions,
Tom Shadyac Films		 Universal Pictures 1hr 35mins
Nutty Professor II:
The Klumps		 Dean Semler William Kerr Universal Pictures,
Peter Segal Films,
Imagine Entertainment,
Brian Grazer Productions,
Shady Acres Entertainment		 1hr 47mins
The Nutty Professor:
Facing the Fear		 Mike Shields James Boshier & Logan McPherson Kaleidoscope TWC,
Mainframe Entertainment Inc.,
The Weinstein Company		 Genius Products 1hr 15mins
Untitled reboot TBA TBA TBA Project X Entertainment TBA

Reception

Box office and financial performance
Film Box office gross Box office
ranking
(per release year)		 Budget Ref.
North America Other territories Worldwide All time
worldwide		 North America
The Nutty Professor (1963) $13,343,056 $5,656,944 $19,000,000 #23 not available $7,630,000 [22][23][24][25]
The Nutty Professor (1996) $128,814,019 $145,147,000 $273,961,019 #8 #8 $55,000,000 [26][27]
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps $123,309,890 $43,030,000 $166,339,890 #16 #26 $84,000,000 [28][29]
The Nutty Professor: Facing the Fear video sales/rentals
not available		 video sales/rentals
not available		 video sales/rentals
not available		 not available not available not available
Untitled reboot — — — — — —
Totals $265,466,965 $193,833,944 $459,300,909 x̅ #11.75[lower-alpha 2] x̅ #8.5[lower-alpha 3] $146,630,000

Notes
  1. These figures are based on the available numbers for the theatrical films. Though there are a total four movies released, there is no financial information publicly available for the animated film.
  2. This is an approximate average, based on the all-time standing of each theatrically released film.
  3. This is an approximate average, based on the all-time standing of each theatrically released film.

Critical and public response
Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore[30]
The Nutty Professor (1963) 85% (26 reviews) — —
The Nutty Professor (1996) 64% (55 reviews) 62/100 (20 reviews)[31] A-
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps 26% (88 reviews) 38/100 (34 reviews)[32] A-
The Nutty Professor: Facing the Fear — — —

Stage

A musical comedy adaptation ran on Broadway after a tryout production that opened at the Nashville Tennessee Performing Arts Center from July to August 2012. Lewis directed the musical, with choreography by Joann M. Hunter. The musical has a book and lyrics written by Rupert Holmes and music composed by Marvin Hamlisch, with scenery by David Gallo and costumes by Ann Hould-Ward.[33][34] Michael Andrew was cast in the lead role as Professor Julius Kelp.[35] The plot closely follows the original film. The production received warm reviews for its choreography, songs, cast, set, and story.[36]

Novelization

The accompanying novel written by the author of the musical's script, Rupert Holmes, received praise for its use of comedy as well as for the meaningful underlying message.[37]

References
  1. Cohen, Herbert J. (July 5, 2015). "The Nutty Professor (1963), directed by Jerry Lewis". Kosher Movies. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  2. Daniels, Alexandria. "3 Valuable Lessons Learned From 'The Nutty Professor'". Izzy & Liv: Culture.Confidence.Soul. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  3. Mendelson, Scott (June 28, 2016). "20 Years Ago, 'The Nutty Professor' Brought Eddie Murphy Back By Destroying His Edgy Persona". Forbes. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  4. Berardinelli, James (1996). "Nutty Professor, The (United States, 1996): A movie review". Reel Views. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  5. Hoberman, J. (June 12, 2014). "Dino? Ol' Blue Eyes? All the Above, by Jerry". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  6. Lumenick, Lou (June 7, 2014). "Why 'The Nutty Professor' is still a classic after 51 years". New York Post. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  7. "AFI's 100 YEARS...100 LAUGHS: The 100 Funniest American Movies Of All Time". American Film Institute. 2000. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  8. "The Nutty Professor - Movie Review". Common Sense Media. 21 March 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  9. NG, David (August 2, 2012). "Jerry Lewis' 'Nutty Professor' musical opens in Nashville". LA Times. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  10. Roger Ebert (June 28, 1996). "The Nutty Professor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  11. Gleiberman, Owen (June 28, 1996). "The Nutty Professor". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  12. O'Hehir, Andrew (July 28, 2000). "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps". Salon. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  13. Lane, Anthony. The New Yorker, August 7, 2000. The Fat of the Land (subscription required)
  14. Leydon, Joe (July 27, 2000). "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps". Variety. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  15. Kroll, Justin (August 24, 2020). "New 'Nutty Professor' Movie In The Works From Project X's James Vanderbilt, William Sherak and Paul Neinstein". Deadline. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  16. Variety Staff (December 31, 1962). "The Nutty Professor (1962)". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  17. McNary, Dave (August 24, 2020). "'Nutty Professor' Reboot in the Works With 'Scream 5' Producers". Variety. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  18. Variety Staff (December 31, 1995). "The Nutty Professor". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  19. Leydon, Joe (July 27, 2000). "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  20. Herman, Joly (September 20, 2019). "The Nutty Professor Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  21. Deadline Hollywood (August 24, 2020). "'NUTTY PROFESSOR' REBOOT IN THE WORKS WITH 'SCREAM 5' PRODUCERS". Project X Entertainment. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  22. Box office information for film in France at Box Office story
  23. Dagan, Richard Natale,Carmel; Natale, Richard; Dagan, Carmel (August 20, 2017). "Jerry Lewis, Comedy Legend, Dies at 91".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. "Google Translate". translate.google.com.
  25. "Top Rental Films of 1963", Variety, 8 January 1964, pg 37.
  26. "The Nutty Professor (1996) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  27. "The Nutty Professor". Box Office Mojo.
  28. "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps". Box Office Mojo.
  29. "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  30. "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  31. "The Nutty Professor" – via www.metacritic.com.
  32. "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" – via www.metacritic.com.
  33. Jones, Kenneth. "Producers of Nutty Professor Hope to Earn Broadway Tenure for New Marvin Hamlisch-Rupert Holmes Show" Archived August 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, August 17, 2012, accessed August 19, 2013
  34. Ng, David (2012-08-02). "Jerry Lewis' 'Nutty Professor' musical opens in Nashville". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  35. Broadway.com Staff (July 24, 2020). "Jerry Lewis' Broadway-Bound Nutty Professor Musical Begins Performances in Nashville". Broadway.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  36. Ellis, Jeffrey (August 1, 2012). "BWW Reviews: THE NUTTY PROFESSOR Sets Its Sights on Broadway After Its Music City Opening". Broadway World. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  37. Ruper Holmes (2012). "The Official Rupert Holmes Website & Resource Center". RupertHolmes.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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