FAT ALBERT
For those who watched the Fat Albert series on
television in its 1972-1984 run, the memories
alone are enough to make the movie float. All
others may need a life vest lest they drown in the
very weak plot. Fat Albert and the gang are still
cartoon characters hanging out at the junkyard,
trapped in the 1970’s. Old Weird Harold,
Mushmouth, Bucky and Dumb Donald haven't
changed, or aged, a bit since their heyday.
A distress signal from young Doris (Kyla Pratt) in
the “real world” sends the gang traveling
through her TV screen and into a parallel
universe to help her solve her popularity
problems. The human incantations of the
cartoon characters are pretty good, but not as
good as the originals. Director Joel Zwick
assembles an adequate cast, but it's a difficult
task to adapt a successful cartoon cast to
human form. This one is for the Cosby Kids fans
and their offspring.
television in its 1972-1984 run, the memories
alone are enough to make the movie float. All
others may need a life vest lest they drown in the
very weak plot. Fat Albert and the gang are still
cartoon characters hanging out at the junkyard,
trapped in the 1970’s. Old Weird Harold,
Mushmouth, Bucky and Dumb Donald haven't
changed, or aged, a bit since their heyday.
A distress signal from young Doris (Kyla Pratt) in
the “real world” sends the gang traveling
through her TV screen and into a parallel
universe to help her solve her popularity
problems. The human incantations of the
cartoon characters are pretty good, but not as
good as the originals. Director Joel Zwick
assembles an adequate cast, but it's a difficult
task to adapt a successful cartoon cast to
human form. This one is for the Cosby Kids fans
and their offspring.
Mary's comments
Hey! Hey! Hey! It's Saturday morning
television circa 1975, all over again. And
that's not entirely bad. Nostalgia plays well
to the adults in the audience and gives
them a chance to tell their offspring what it
was like back in those days. Since the kids
are happy to beat the movies eating
expensive snacks, everyone wins.
Hey! Hey! Hey! It's Saturday morning
television circa 1975, all over again. And
that's not entirely bad. Nostalgia plays well
to the adults in the audience and gives
them a chance to tell their offspring what it
was like back in those days. Since the kids
are happy to beat the movies eating
expensive snacks, everyone wins.
Brenda's comments
Still set in Philly, the Cosby Kids take on the
twenty-first century when they come to the
aid of young Doris. Things have changed,
but they haven't. After the first half hour, or
so, they become pretty comfortable in their
new setting, but it is not meant to be.
Eventually they must return to yesteryear.
Might make a good television special
someday, but falls short on the big screen.
Still set in Philly, the Cosby Kids take on the
twenty-first century when they come to the
aid of young Doris. Things have changed,
but they haven't. After the first half hour, or
so, they become pretty comfortable in their
new setting, but it is not meant to be.
Eventually they must return to yesteryear.
Might make a good television special
someday, but falls short on the big screen.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY Publishers: Brenda S. Ladd & Mary K. Morgan |
Movie Details
Official Movie Website
Theatrical Release
2004
Home Video
3/22/05 (DVD)
MPAA Rating
Rated PG for momentary
language
Running Time
1 hour 40 minutes
Directed by
Joel Zwick
Cast
Kenan Thompson, Kyla
Pratt, Dania Ramirez, Omari
Grandberry, Marques
Houston, Keith Robinson,
Aaron Carter, Jeremy
Suarez, Raven Symone, Keri
Lynn Pratt, Shedrack
Anderson, Jermaine
Williams
Studio
20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release
2004
Home Video
3/22/05 (DVD)
MPAA Rating
Rated PG for momentary
language
Running Time
1 hour 40 minutes
Directed by
Joel Zwick
Cast
Kenan Thompson, Kyla
Pratt, Dania Ramirez, Omari
Grandberry, Marques
Houston, Keith Robinson,
Aaron Carter, Jeremy
Suarez, Raven Symone, Keri
Lynn Pratt, Shedrack
Anderson, Jermaine
Williams
Studio
20th Century Fox
DVD Details
Disc Specs
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Running Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Features:
Disc 1 Side 1: Full Length Feature -
Widescreen
· Comedy Trailer
· Inside Look (Ice Age 2, Rebound)
· Commentary by Joel Zwick and Jon
Davis
· Theatrical Trailer
· Sandlot 2 Trailer
Extended Scenes:
· Microwave Scene
· Bill & Mushmouth at the Fair
Disc 1 Side 2: Full Length Feature - Pan &
Scan
· Comedy Trailer
· Inside Look (Ice Age 2, Rebound)
· Commentary by Joel Zwick and Jon
Davis
· Fat Albert: Behind the Band Featurette
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Running Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Features:
Disc 1 Side 1: Full Length Feature -
Widescreen
· Comedy Trailer
· Inside Look (Ice Age 2, Rebound)
· Commentary by Joel Zwick and Jon
Davis
· Theatrical Trailer
· Sandlot 2 Trailer
Extended Scenes:
· Microwave Scene
· Bill & Mushmouth at the Fair
Disc 1 Side 2: Full Length Feature - Pan &
Scan
· Comedy Trailer
· Inside Look (Ice Age 2, Rebound)
· Commentary by Joel Zwick and Jon
Davis
· Fat Albert: Behind the Band Featurette