Professor Sherman Klump (Murphy) is getting married and the Klump family (Murphy) couldn't be happier for him; all except Buddy Love, his alter ego, who still exists in the back of Sherman's mind.

Buddy has a tendency to rear his ugly head in untimely outbursts, so threatening the plump professor's plans to marry colleague Denise (Jackson).

The nutty professor, in a moment of madness, decides to rid himself of the monstrosity of a character trait that is Buddy Love - by extracting the appropriate DNA from his system.

Naturally, things go about as smoothly as the title suggests, and while Buddy is indeed separated from Sherman, he becomes an entirely separate person.

The science that brings about the rebirth of Buddy - who, in an inspired twist, isn't quite his old self - is pure hocus-pocus, as are all the mechanics behind the potion at the centre of the film: Sherman's revolutionary anti-ageing serum, or 'youth juice'.

But this doesn't matter in a light-hearted film that doesn't try to take itself too seriously.

That's what makes 'The Klumps' an enjoyable movie: its overall high spirits and, of course, the simple fact that it will make you laugh.

Each character Murphy plays is distinctly drawn, funny, and endearing in his or her own way.

Of course, Murphy's incredible comic talents are aided by Rick Baker's outstanding makeup work and the efforts of the visual effects crew, but it is Murphy alone who gives each one of the Klumps energy and soul.

Watch and laugh as Sherman battles to reclaim his formula, restore order to his family, and marry the woman he loves... before all hell breaks loose.

Dominic Bloch