The Nutty Professor (1963)

This is now the second Jerry Lewis movie that I've recently watched - And I swear that it'll be the last. I refuse to watch another film with this #1 A-Hole in it, ever again.In one word - I sum up Jerry Lewis as being nothing but AWFUL!!!... AWFUL!!... AWFUL!!This brain-dead Jekyll & Hyde story from 1963 stank, big-time. With Lewis portraying 2 personae in this picture - He certainly managed to be unbearably irritating as both characters.It was especially as the infantile Dr. Julius Kelp character (aka. the nutty professor) that Lewis totally grated on my nerves like you wouldn't believe. It was a good thing for subtitles here 'cause otherwise I wouldn't have ever understood WTF!? his character was babbling about most of the time.I honestly cannot believe that this idiotic doofus (Lewis) was a really popular and well-liked comedian of his generation. ' Cause, as I said earlier - Lewis was AWFUL!! AWFUL!! AWFUL!!

The Nutty Professor (1963) *** (out of 4) Professor Kelp (Jerry Lewis) is a giant nerd of a man who is quite weak, gets picked on by even his students and overall he's just nothing to write home about. He decides that enough is enough to he creates a potion and tries it on himself. This turns the nerdy Kelp into the irresistible and cool Buddy Love (Lewis) but pretty soon Kelp learns there's more to a personality than just looks.THE NUTTY PROFESSOR is perhaps the best known and most loved of all of Jerry Lewis comedies that he made after his break-up with Dean Martin. The film has remained a popular film over the decades and it even go ta much loved remake, which I personally think is a mini masterpiece. I first watched this movie a few days after seeing the remake and I thought that this was rather weak in comparison. With that said, after going back and giving the film a second viewing it's easy to see why so many people love it. This version of THE NUTTY PROFESSOR deserves the strong reputation that it has built up over the years.There's no question that the majority of the credit must go to Lewis. Not only did he create two great characters but his strength as an actor pulled both parts off. We all knew he could play someone like Kelp as he had been playing nerds throughout his career but he really brought some warmth and heart to this character unlike any better. Even the Love character is perfectly played by the actor who proved he could play it "straight" and mean. I'm not sure if this character was a wink towards Martin but it was fun. Stella Stevens is also quite easy on the eyes and makes for a good love interest. Richard Kiel makes a quick appearance here and is also memorable.There are many great laughs throughout the entire film and it's really a wonder more people hadn't tries to play the whole Jekyll and Hyde thing. Lewis was apparently very fond of the story as well as the various film versions and it's easy to see why. Lewis manages to take the two roles and turn them into something really special and there's no question that he gets a great number of laughs during the early portion of the film. I do think the film runs out of gas towards the end and the music numbers at the end do stop the film in its tracks. Still, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR has become a classic and it's easy to see why.

The expression Swinging sixties could apply to the movie : it's full of music, colors, youth and fun and as a movies explorer, it's a prerequisite to see this icon. But finally this comedy is far to stay as a classic for my taste and Lewis seems to be a bit overrated : the story is weak as it's more an addition of ideas, the scenes drag endlessly and have no pulse, the Jekyll character is totally boring and in a way, the crooner choice is not interesting ! Sure there is some very funny moments and up to the last frame but beyond the historical value as we can travel in past, there are a lot of fun movies more dynamic out there !

This Jerry's masterpiece -- his Annie Hall -- the one for the ages that will be re-watched however the rest may (or may not) endure.Jerry-as-professor is a variant on Jerry's usual screen idiot, but with amusing double-talk, and good physical comedy. He also manages to convey real pathos under all the clowning.Jerry's smarmy "Buddy Love" character is surprisingly complicated -- an ass and a bully, but with hints of vulnerability and pathetic drunkenness. "Ain't enough you got the best? You want me to be on-time too?" The character anticipates his "Jerry Langford" in the King of Comedy. It's a self-less performance -- playing an unflattering part very very well. The alluring and wide-eyed Stella Stevens helps too. :)