The_Jew_Revue

I first watched The Nutty Professor when I was about 9 or 10, and at the time, it struck me as a wild, edgy comedy wrapped in a colorful, family-friendly package. Eddie Murphy's performance as the kind-hearted but overweight Professor Sherman Klump was both hilarious and strangely endearing, and the film's chaotic blend of slapstick humor and cartoonish exaggeration made a big impression on my young mind. I clearly remember the scene with the cruel comedian roasting Klump-it wasn't until much later that I realized that was a young Dave Chappelle playing that obnoxious jerk. Even then, his role stuck out as one of the most uncomfortable but memorable moments in the movie.

What really blew my mind back then was the Buddy Love transformation. I had no idea that Eddie Murphy was playing both characters, and I honestly believed Buddy was a completely different actor. That's how convincing the makeup and energy shift were to a kid seeing Murphy for the first time. It was only later, with more exposure to Eddie's work, that I came to appreciate just how much range and physical comedy he packed into this movie. Looking back, The Nutty Professor was not only a gateway into Murphy's filmography for me, but also an early introduction to how transformative performances and clever effects could completely fool a young audience.

I first saw Mr. Destiny when I was 15, and I've loved it ever since. The film stars James Belushi as Larry Burrows, a guy convinced that one bad swing in a high school baseball game ruined his entire life. But instead of being shown how much he matters to others like in It's a Wonderful Life, Larry gets the opposite: a magical glimpse of how great his life could have been if he'd just hit that home run. With the help of a mysterious, effortlessly cool bartender named Mike (played perfectly by Michael Caine), Larry wakes up in an alternate reality where he's rich, powerful-and completely lost. Linda Hamilton shines as his real-world wife, Ellen, adding emotional depth and reminding us what truly matters when all the glitter fades.

In his "better" life, Larry is married to the striking and distant Cindy Jo (René Russo), and soon finds himself tangled up with Jewel, his unhinged mistress, played with wild-eyed fire by Courteney Cox. Jewel is a total scene-stealer-sexy, unpredictable, and just flat-out nuts. Watching Larry fumble through this fantasy world full of success but lacking soul is what gives the film its heart and humor. Mr. Destiny may not be as classic as It's a Wonderful Life, but it delivers a fun, heartfelt message in reverse: sometimes the life you wish for isn't nearly as good as the one you already have.

Reluctantly, I watched this film years ago just to finish out the trilogy and say that I watched them all. I didn't know that it was as terrible as it was until the midpoint of the film, but I struggled through and finished the film anyways. Its not the worst film I have ever seen, but it's definitely up there in the top 5, and I haven't attempted to watch it since.

Poltergeist III struggles under the weight of its iconic predecessor, delivering a follow-up that feels more like a shadow than a continuation. Gone is the heart and depth of the original film; in its place are flashy mirror tricks and a claustrophobic high-rise setting that fails to conjure the same sense of dread. The plot meanders, and the characters feel distant, making it difficult to stay engaged. What once felt like a chilling tale of supernatural intrusion now feels like a tired retread, stretched too thin to sustain genuine suspense or emotional investment.

Adding to the unease surrounding the film is the tragic real-life "Poltergeist curse." Heather O'Rourke, the young actress whose innocent presence anchored the franchise, died unexpectedly before the film's release, casting a dark pall over the production. Her final performance is haunting-not just for the eerie content of the film, but for the heartbreaking knowledge of her fate. It's difficult to separate the film from this tragedy, and in the end, Poltergeist III becomes less a horror film and more a mournful epilogue to a once-great series.