Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

Following the $270 million box office triumph of The Nutty Professor in 1996, Eddie Murphy returns to the role of everyone's favorite 400-bound science professor, Sherman Klump. With astounding versatility, the actor tackles the multiple Klump family characters. Murphy's comedic genius is showcased as we visit this uproarious household and its vivid and memorable characters: Mama, Papa, Ernie and Granny Klump, as well as the loathsome Buddy Love. Murphy manages to move from Klump to Klump with seamless believability, stamping each personality with its own set of idiosyncrasies and mannerisms. Each character is truly unique.

No one realized while making the first The Nutty Professor that the Klump family would resonate so well with audiences. In fact, they very nearly didn't make the film. Producer Brian Grazer recalls, "The Klump characters are very expensive to execute because the make-up process takes so much time—limitations are then imposed on the amount of work that can be done in one day. So, in the first movie we had to audition the Klumps for the studio to show just how funny and convincing these characters could be."

Screen time for the family in The Nutty Professor was limited to two dinner table scenes, but the hilarity of this group of dimensionally-challenged dynamos was indisputable—they stole the show. In Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, these characters are brought to life beyond the confines of their knives, forks and place settings.

Grazer continues, "Movies are entirely subjective. You just don't know what will hit and be most liked. When it became clear that the Klumps were the stars of the movie, a sequel was evident: make the family members three-dimensional characters, and develop a sub-plot for each of them."

Having always felt that the first film only hinted at what could be done with the Klump characters, Murphy agreed, "This movie isn't about an unhappy Sherman trying to find love and accept his appearance like the first film. Sherman's met his true love, and while he's still the central character, his family is no longer peripheral. They're really a part of the story with big meaty roles."

Grazer and Murphy have partnered on a number of films and television projects, most recently on Universal's comedy hits Life and Bowfinger. "Our sense of humor intersects in the same territory and when you trust each other it enables you to take a lot of risks," Grazer explains.

So finding the right director with the talent and sense of comedy to collaborate with this powerhouse duo was critical. Peter Segal proved to be that person and the perfect addition to the team.

"Peter Segal came to the project with the energy, talent and enthusiasm required for the scope of this film. I wanted to work with a clever, young, funny and energetic director, similar to Tom Shadyac who directed the first one," says Murphy.

Being able to work in a collaborative fashion is essential for the actor. Murphy's expressive humor is best brought to the surface in a flexible environment, allowing for improvisation and unexpected twists and turns. Producer Grazer comments, "Pete can make things funny. Not all comedy directors can do that. They may be able to do their jobs well, but without being able to expand upon the creation of comedy. Pete's very collaborative which is essential for Eddie."

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