As a longtime admirer of the entertainment industry, I can confidently say that Eddie Murphy’s performance in “The Nutty Professor” is nothing short of a masterpiece. Having grown up watching his comedic genius on Saturday Night Live and in movies like “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Coming to America,” it was a delight to witness the range he showcased in this film.
The remarkable Eddie Murphy has been a mainstay on both the large and small screens since he shot to fame on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. This gifted comedian and actor then graced us with numerous beloved films such as Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and the treasured Shrek series. Despite receiving multiple awards like a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy, there is one honor he hasn’t received yet: an Oscar.
Although Murphy was nominated for an award due to his remarkable performance in the musical “Dreamgirls”, he hasn’t received the esteemed statuette yet, a situation that Ryan Reynolds finds utterly unjust. In fact, the star of “Deadpool” thinks that Murphy’s hilarious performances in the ’90s sci-fi comedy “The Nutty Professor” deserved the coveted Oscar, as he played an astounding seven characters in the outrageous film. Here’s what Reynolds had to express about it.
Eddie Murphy Dazzles in a Tour De Force Comedic Performance
A modern take on Jerry Lewis’ 1960s classic comedy, the 1996 sci-fi film “The Nutty Professor” is likewise a humorous reinterpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It focuses on Sherman Klump, an overweight and caring university professor, who is also a gifted research scientist inventing a weight-loss serum. After having a disastrous date with the sweet graduate student Carla Purty (played by Jada Pinkett Smith) and being ridiculed by a comedian at a show, Klump, feeling embarrassed and upset, decides to test this serum on himself. This results in the emergence of his antagonistic alter ego, Buddy Love.
In the thrilling power struggle, Sherman confronts Buddy, a charming yet annoying character, whose growing ego causes him to transform into an arrogant bully. Remarkably, comedy sensation Eddie Murphy embodies both endearing Sherman and Buddy in the riotously funny remake titled “The Nutty Professor“. Moreover, Murphy takes on six additional roles within this film, such as Sherman’s stern father Cletus and his quick-witted grandmother Ida Mae. The movie offered a platform for Murphy to display his remarkable acting skills by developing each outrageous character into a unique and side-splitting portrayal.
Reynolds Declares Murphy Deserves His Flowers
Despite The Nutty Professor not receiving an Academy Award nomination in 1997, Ryan Reynolds, a renowned actor known for roles like Deadpool and Wolverine, expressed his belief that Eddie Murphy’s extraordinary performance in the film deserved recognition. The ability to captivate audiences while donning heavy prosthetics and portraying seven hilarious personas showcased Murphy’s exceptional acting skills, as Reynolds and Variety Awards Circuit acknowledged in 2024.
“Just the fact that he could sit at a table and be 10 different characters at one table, that is singular. And that is a kind of talent that, I don’t know that we’ve at this stage in our scientific journey of life could understand fully.”
During the interview, Reynolds elaborated on his belief that the comedy genre is often undervalued or overlooked by awarding bodies like the Academy. He considered Eddie Murphy not receiving a nomination for Best Actor in this case as one of the biggest oversights. Comedians, he explained, tend to underestimate comedy as an art form, while still deeply appreciating the remarkable performances that Murphy delivered in films such as “The Nutty Professor” and its sequel “The Klumps.” Reynolds also expressed great admiration for Murphy’s talent as a performer, sharing that he served as a significant inspiration.
In simpler terms, when I watch Eddie Murphy’s stand-up comedy, it feels like he’s constantly trying on different personas through his impressions. He seems to remember every detail about each character, including their movements and actions.
Other Famous Faces Share the Sentiment
Though it may be hard for some to imagine Eddie Murphy walking home with the highly-coveted statuette for his uproarious seven performances in The Nutty Professor, the sentiment that the revered comedian deserved his flowers for the film has been expressed by some of the entertainment industry’s most dazzling stars, who share the sentiment. While Murphy memorably starred in a slew of hits like Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and Dolemite Is My Name, there’s no denying he acted his proverbial butt off in the ’96 farce.
Comedian Chris Rock, who is well-known from “Saturday Night Live”, has also praised Murphy’s outstanding performance in the film. He compared Murphy to English actor and comedian Peter Sellers, noting Murphy’s fearless attitude and versatility. In an interview with The New York Times in 2006, Rock emphasized that Murphy should receive more recognition for the hilarious moments he created throughout his long career. This view aligns with Reynolds’ future observations, and Rock even declared that Murphy, a pioneering movie star, is truly remarkable.
Eddie embodies every quirky family member we see him portray in ‘Coming to America’ and ‘The Nutty Professor’. It’s a wonder he didn’t receive numerous Oscars just for his exceptional performances as multiple characters in these films.
In a 2015 podcast, Anchorman’s David Koechner praised Eddie Murphy for his exceptional performance in “The Nutty Professor.” He considered it one of the greatest performances ever, noting that Murphy didn’t just create voices but rather entire personalities for each character. The esteemed actor has often highlighted his role as Sherman Klump and his vibrant family members as one of his favorite roles and projects, expressing fond memories of this work in interviews with The New York Times.
The transformative makeup effects by Rick Baker are remarkable; they allow one to become completely unrecognizable. It’s as if I, myself, could walk into a room and no one would recognize me… I can hardly think of another artist capable of pulling off the makeup for The Nutty Professor.
Rent/Buy The Nutty Professor on Apple TV.
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2024-11-27 05:32