The whole 1990s decade delivered a ton of great movies, and when it comes to comedy, The Nutty Professor was one of the decade’s biggest hits. It dominated the box office and showcased Eddie Murphy at the height of his powers. What stood out even more was that Murphy managed to successfully remake two older films I had never even heard of—The Nutty Professor and Doctor Dolittle—both around the same time.

Sherman Klump, the film’s lovable protagonist, is an obese scientist who struggles with confidence and social acceptance. Despite his awkwardness, he’s a brilliant mind, and he ends up inventing what is essentially a fast-acting version of Ozempic—a miracle weight-loss serum.

The serum works remarkably well, but with a major side effect: it transforms him into an entirely different persona—his thin, cocky, and wild alter ego named Buddy Love. One of my favorite scenes is when Buddy tries to squeeze into spandex. I don’t know why that moment sticks with me, but it always cracks me up.

What truly blew my mind in 1996 was the movie magic that allowed Eddie Murphy to play nearly every member of the Klump family—all in the same scene, seamlessly interacting with each other. It’s the kind of effect that seems simple today, but back then, it felt like cinematic wizardry.

And let’s be honest—Granny Klump absolutely steals the show. She’s easily the funniest member of the family.

I probably haven’t seen The Nutty Professor movie in over 25 years, but back in the day, Eddie Murphy was the disputed king of comedy—before he quietly faded into what felt like an unofficial retirement.