Murphy Ignites the Screen Eight Times Over

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Dir: Peter Segal Starring Eddie Murphy Janet Jackson Larry Miller John Ales 2000 PG-13, 106 m RATING: 7 out of 10

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: Eddie Murphy brims with comic genius in this superior sequel to his 1996 comeback hit.

Considering the fact that most sequels never live up the the original, Nutty Professor II surpasses the original.  Although it contains the now obligatory gross-out humor that has become a fad thanks to the Farrelly brothers, it doesn't assail the audience with it; it is used sporadically, thankfully, because this is the lowest point of the film. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps brings back Eddie Murphy's sweet, likeable Professor Klump, who must somehow find a way to rid himself of his alter-ego, Buddy Love, who threaterns to ruin his relationship with beautiful fellow professor Janet Jackson.  But when his experimental gene-removing procedure fails, Buddy is on the loose, while the side effect of the gene tinkering has left Professor Klump with a slow brain-debilitating condition. Again, there are present some gross-out gags, but for the most part, they are kept to a tolerable minimum.  While the story may be thin, it's not ultra-thin and it keeps the flim moving along at a nice, brisk pace.  However, as we see Sherman slowly tring to keep his intelligence afloat in order to be loved by Jackson for his mind, a bit of the underlying theme of the first installment, that is, we should be happy and cared about for who we are, not who we aren't, comes through.  Murphy's character has found in Jackson someone who cares for who he is, and he'll be damned if he becomes someone else. Obviously, the centerpiece and shining component of the film isn't the plot.  This is Murphy's show all the way, and his portrayal of eight unique, funny, and completely different characters is, quite honestly, staggering.  It is very difficult to see each character as being played by Murphy: instead, each character is an individual creation with its own mannerisms, tics, and voice.  It's amazing to see Murphy play so many character so well; again, one forgets he is seeing only one actor playing each character so hilariously funny.  If audiences thought Eddie Murphy's comedic flare was waning, this will certainly prove that he is a genius at his craft. Surprisingly sweet and honest at times, Nutty II is a sequel that does what many sequels do not: it surpasses the firm film with some gut-busting jokes and packs in brilliant characterizations of the Klump family, thanks to magical makeup and Murphy's brilliance.  While flatulence and scatological jokes sometimes litter the screen, it's definitely a lighthearted comedy that is actually quite disarming.

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