Professor Kelp is an accident prone, awkward nerd who is constantly bullied by his students. He decides to start visiting the gym to bulk up a little, but when his work-outs don't show any results, he creates a special formula. This formula, after a Jekyll/Hyde transformation, turns him into the suave, obnoxious Buddy Love.
The Nutty Professor is one of the strangest films I've ever seen. :) It's a perfect example of a 60s movie: slightly off-beat humor, everyone smoking cigarettes and ordering drinks. And it's filmed in gorgeous, bright Technicolor at its best.
You can't help but like, and feel sorry for, Professor Kelp.
And Buddy Love. He is, in the words of Stella, a "rude, discourteous egomaniac." (To which he responds: "You're crazy about me, right? And I can understand it. Only this morning, looking in the mirror before shaving, I enjoyed seeing what I saw so much I couldn't tear myself away.") He is seriously the most arrogant jerk you can imagine. Some people thought that he was based on Dean Martin, but Jerry Lewis denies it and says that Buddy Love is based on every jerk he ever met during his life (he doesn't say it quite like that, but I'll give you the profanity-free version :) and also on his "bad" side.
And yet...Stella is drawn to him. A lot of people are drawn to him. And while you're watching, you can't help but be drawn to him as well, in some bizarre way. Of course, it might have something to do with the little speech he gives Stella when they're leaning against the car before he has to make his escape. :) One of my favorite Buddy Love scenes is the one when he meets the president of the college.
Some of my favorite scenes: the transformation scene. It is seriously creepy, especially for a comedy film. And I love Howard Morris' scenes- he plays Prof. Kelp's father, and it is hilarious. In case you didn't know, Howard Morris plays one of the best TV characters ever: Ernest T. Bass, the rock-throwing nut in The Andy Griffith Show. Also, the prom/dance scene. Especially Professor Kelp busting a move when he's overcome with the music and his speech at the end. I love the whole ending. :)
This is the only Jerry Lewis film I've ever seen, I think. I've heard it's his best, but it always makes me want to watch more of his movies! So, have any of you guys ever seen The Nutty Professor? What other Jerry Lewis films do you recommend?
Until next time,
I remember watching all of the Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin films a lot growing up, and I tend to prefer those (more than The Nutty Professor anyway - the Martin/Lewis dynamic could be so funny!). One that sticks out is Hollywood or Bust. But two solo Lewis films that you might like are Rock-a-Bye Baby and Cinderfella.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so cute! I would love to watch it sometime. :)
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I remember seeing The Nutty Professor as a little girl and thinking "huh'? :)
ReplyDeleteTHe Nutty Professor, starring Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens, is one of the best laugh flicks ever. The colors, the outrageousness, the lingo----PRICELESS.
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