Eddie Murphy has given us a plethora of remarkable performances throughout his prestigious career. From portraying the smart and courageous Axel Foley in the hilarious Beverly Hills Cop films to bringing to life the talented yet troubled James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls, his range as an actor is truly commendable. With such an impressive body of work, one can’t help but wonder which movie Eddie himself considers to feature his best performance. In a recent interview, he confidently stated that there’s “no comparison.” Interestingly, the film he believes showcases his best work may not be the one that immediately comes to mind.
During a recent wide-ranging interview, the 63-year-old actor delved into various aspects of his career and personal life. The interview, which took place on the New York Times podcast, The Interview, and is available on YouTube, provided an opportunity for the actor to reflect on his body of work. One of the hosts suggested that the actor’s best work could be found in the movie Bowfinger. However, the actor respectfully expressed his disagreement with this assessment. In his view, his most remarkable performance can be found in a certain 1996 comedy where he portrayed a lovable scientist. He emphasized the transformative nature of his role, highlighting the extensive make-up work by Rick Baker that enabled him to inhabit the character so thoroughly that he was unrecognizable. According to the actor, it was this level of immersion that represented his finest acting achievement.
The Nutty Professor, a modern adaptation of the 1963 sci-fi comedy originally starring Jerry Lewis, showcases Eddie Murphy in the role of Sherman Klump, an overweight scientist on a quest to lose weight. In the process, he formulates a potion that helps him achieve his goal, but inadvertently gives rise to an unscrupulous alter ego named Buddy Love. Notably, Murphy undertakes multiple roles within the Klump family through the use of makeup, further distinguishing the film. When discussing the movie in an interview, Murphy highlighted its uniqueness by emphasizing that he couldn’t envision anyone else portraying the character of Sherman Klump. While Bowfinger is also recognized as one of Eddie Murphy’s standout works, he conceded that there might have been other actors suitable for the role. Nevertheless, he expressed uncertainty about who could have depicted the Klump family as effectively as he did.
Today, The Nutty Professor continues to be regarded as one of the most iconic films in Eddie Murphy’s career. Released almost 30 years ago, it was a massive success at the box office, paving the way for a 2000 sequel titled The Klumps. While the sequel didn’t quite match the critical acclaim of the original, it still managed to be a box office hit. Sherman Klump, the lovable character played by Murphy, has left a lasting impression on many fans. In fact, even the singer Lizzo shared an emotional connection to Sherman’s story in the movie.
Interestingly, Eddie Murphy expressed his desire to have the Klumps make an appearance in the 2021 film Coming 2 America, underscoring his affection for the boisterous family. Regardless of personal preferences for the two movies, both stand as significant achievements in comedy filmmaking and as platforms that showcase Murphy’s exceptional talents.
