"Daddy?"

"Yes Kitten."

"Can we go see the movie about the funny black man?"

"Now Kitten, that almost sounds racist. Just what movie is this?"

"It's the new Eddie Murphy movie. He's a very funny bl-"

"Yes, yes. Eddie Murphy was funny once, long before you were born. Sadly, he became officially unfunny the day he released Another 48 Hours."

"But he's really funny in this one! He is!!"

"Really? They must have re-released Trading Places."

"No, not that one."

"Well what's this movie called, Kitten?"

"It's The Nutty Professor."

"The Nutty Professor? That's Eddie? The one with the fat guy?"

"Yeah Daddy, the one about the funny bl-"

"Now Kitten, don't be stereotyping a group of people."

"I'm sorry, can we go?"

"Yes, let's go see the movie about the funny fat man."

So I went to the theater prepared for a bevy of fat jokes, and I got quite a few, but you know, they were pretty funny. And what's more, the movie is above this stuff, and is just plain funny itself

Eddie Murphy, his career so far gone he was filling out job applications at Home Depot, has performed an old Hollywood stunt, and remade a proven winner.

Well done.

The Nutty Professor, Jerry Lewis's classic comedy about a geek turned god, is just what the doctor ordered for Eddie. The 90's twist: instead of geeky, he's awfully fat.

Story is thus: 400 pound Sherman Klump discovers a way to become svelte Buddy Love, and mayhem ensues.

Say what you will about Eddie, he's very talented, and his seven characters (one short of a Half-Sybil) run the gauntlet and are each distinct, unique, and very, very funny.

He plays both of the main characters and most of his immediate family, as well as a dog, hamster, the love interest and one of the buildings.

I'm kidding. But he does play a white fitness guru who is a carbon copy of Richard Simmons.

Now although he is very funny, I wonder, if a white man had himself made up as an effeminate black man for laughs, do you think there might be a protest? But Eddie can just run around waving and flopping and all of America laughs along with him. Interesting.

Of all of his creations, the most wonderful is the title character, Professor Sherman Klump. A dietarily-challenged individual weighing over 400 pounds, he comes off as likable, lovable, and believable. This is the character we follow, and we care about him, we really do. And when the shock comic takes aim at his weight and lets into him, we feel the pain that he's feeling, and even though the jokes are actually funny, we aren't laughing, because we aren't meant to.

However, there is plenty in here to laugh at. From an opening sequence dominated by a flock of aerodynamic rodents to the final battle between Eddie and ... Eddie.

The alter ego, the Hyena-like playboy Buddy Love, is everything you've ever wanted to hate about Mr. Murphy, and it's a joy to be allowed to hate him. But he contains characteristics we find in ourselves all to often, like the desire to sleep with three babes at once.

Or maybe that's just me.

In any case, there's a little Love in each of us.

This movie is a hoot, and a welcome return to form for The Murphster. It's success has squelched rumors of upcoming productions of "Yet Another 48 Hours" and "Beverly Hills Cop 4: Why Doesn't He Just Move Here?"

Oscar mentions must be made of for the make-up artist, who managed not only to make Eddie white in a tank-top and shorts, but created individual characters played by Eddie who looked nothing like him, not a small feat.

Of course they all have his ridiculous laugh.

All told, The Nutty Professor garners 4 Babylons. It's probably the best comedy of the summer, and if you are in need of a laugh, you should treat yourself.

Just be prepared for some fart jokes.

Editor's Note:

We'll just go ahead and kill the paternity rumors here and now. The Self-Made Critic does not have children. Kitten was portrayed by Balding Baby-Boomer Technician Ed Hoggle. Hey, it's the internet, who's gonna know?

We wanted to have another review for you all this weekend, but The Self-Made Critic ended up in a matinee for Independence Day, again.

We have a sinking feeling that he's gonna sneak away to that movie every week until it's gone. He mentioned something about seeing if it's any better when he's wearing the Phantom Ring. He is something of a Geek. Case in point, he got back today raving about a preview for Star Wars they showed in front of ID4. I tried telling him that Star Wars was actually first released almost twenty years ago, but he just ignored me.

"It's gotta be good. It has a Jedi Knight!"

Who knows, you may yet see a rating of 5 Babylons.