User Reviews

Is there an unwritten rule in Hollywood that if you choose to recreate comedy, it has to be less funny than the original so that it doesn't overpower the genuine moment of the first? I am a strong believer that there is such a rule because I fully witnessed it in the film Fat Albert. This film had so much potential that I really wanted to jump into my television and start grabbing necks a-la Homer Simpson. Frustration grew inside of me as jokes were tossed out towards the viewing audience with such disappointment that to laugh would have given the film way too much credit. The characters were flat, the story was "normal chaos that has been done in nearly every other film", and the class of the television program Fat Albert was diminished by cheap thrills and over-budgeting. Did Bill Cosby have a true writing credit to this film? It would be hard for me to believe that he seriously considered this work great, but then again, he is older and has bills to pay … so why not? While the ending tried to bring a tear to your eye, I was already crying at the utter lack of appreciation that this film carried and influenced the youth of our nation.

To say that this film was horrible would be too kind of a word, to quote a line from the film "(Fat Albert is) like school on Saturday: no class" would again, probably be giving it too much credit. From the opening credit sequence to the overly animated cartoons to the lack of animation in the characters when they became real was difficult to watch. Kenan Thompson tries really hard to empower the soul of Fat Albert, but what comes through the screen are just pathetic. He has no backbone and literally, he gives Albert this image of ignorance. Instead of being this helpful friend, Thompson's Albert has these huge glazed eyes that roll around whenever trouble begins. He just didn't seem to have that pizazz that I remember Albert having from the television programs. If Albert was a leader in the cartoon, he was not one in this film. Unless you count the fact that the other actors in this film followed his suit by also leaving their energy at home. Childish humor coupled with this sense of apathy really didn't spark this film onto the level it should have been. I kept seeing glances of this really humorous story about Fat Albert in the real world, but instead I was forced through yet another Cool World. That is how I would best describe this film, Cool World for children.

With our characters firmly not caring about their careers, we are then forced to focus on the non-existent story that apparently the writers of this film chose to not write. Instead of creating a plot with some climactic moments, our writers of this film chose to just let Fat Albert wander until something funny happened. I kept wondering to myself if this was an actual scripted film or just Thompson and Zwick allowing improv to occur anywhere and anytime. Now, if you were working with a genuine comic actor this could have worked (like Robin Williams or Will Ferrell), but with Thompson it just felt forced. Nearly every scene felt forced or overworked in this film. Spontaneity was not an element that these writers considered. This ultimately caused the jokes to be extremely flat. The humor just didn't bring the true life of Albert onto the screen. This is where I question the validity of Cosby being involved with this production. I know he was getting paid, but how much did he work? The jokes felt so old and used that I am surprised that children responded to them. Maybe it was the urban feel that Albert somehow felt comfortable in … who knows? Either way, the loose story allowed for unfizzy jokes, which ultimately lead to the demise of this picture.

Finally, I would like to say that Fat Albert (when I was growing up) was an inspiration and "every man" to us all. The group that followed him and his actions somehow always felt like a part of us. There wasn't anything that could stop Fat Albert from helping another lost soul, and somehow in this film adaptation, none of these old feels could be remembered. It wasn't as if they were trying, but this was definitely not the same Fat Albert that I grew up with. He didn't reach me like he used to, and perhaps it was the larger budget or the lack of imagination, but Albert hurt the soul in this film. I am surprised that he was able to assist Doris in her problem (this obscure problem that was never quite defined), because if I were in her shoes, I would have politely kicked this Albert to the curb. Cosby needed to reconsider his options before allowing this Albert to see the light of day.

Overall, as if you couldn't tell already, this film hurt me. As I watched this dopey picture, I couldn't help but wonder if this film was focused correctly. When it first started I had this feeling that Albert would be called to help Doris with her problem, causing him to be a secondary character (like her own Jiminie Cricket), but instead what happened is that Thompson's camera excitement stole the performance away from Doris while creating a film centered around Albert. This should not have been the case for this to be a truly inspirational film. We lost the central focus of the film, and then the story just went fuzzy. Too many hands in the honey pot with one hand wanting to be on top. It was sad, and ultimately destroyed this film.

Grade: ** out of *****

This movie was pretty much forced into being, and horribly so. I never watched "Fat Albert" as a kid, but I concluded that I would watch the movie based upon the cartoon's reputation. Had I known that Fat Albert and the gang would lunge through the television from cartoon town to real life, I wouldn't have even watched the opening credits.

It was a feel good story with a good message, but it was terribly done. A lot of the scenes in the movie seemed as though they were for occupying space and time more than for aiding the plot. Fat Albert can do it all, and even though he's fat, he's super cool. That is about what I got out of the bulk of the movie.

For the most part, when "family" and "movie" are right next to each other in the same sentence, my first instinct is to run as fast as I can the other way. But with a movie pass about to expire, and nothing else in the theater that piqued my interest (Christmas With the Kranks? NO THANK YOU!), I sat down in my seat with no expectations. I haven't seen the original TV series in years, but I've always been a big fan of Bill Cosby, and I was immediately put at ease when the credit "Written by Bill Cosby" came up. Bill's script keeps the spirit of the original characters intact, and incorporates them into the real world without an overkill of "Oh, wow! Things are so different now!" style of jokes. This movie is made for kids, not at kids. Things are kept simple without being condescending, and at no time will adults have to talk their way out of explaining something "adult" to the kiddies. In the end, while this movie won't win any technical or artistic awards, it's still a fun little movie that the whole family can enjoy, and for once, that's a good thing. B-plus.

What a disappointment this movie was ... one of the most original and brightest cartoons of it's time deserved a lot more than this poorly-written, unimaginative effort - the characters were more two-dimensional than their original cartoon counterparts!

The acting was OK, it was the script that was the real disaster - where was Fat Albert to help out with *that* particular problem ?

the 'plight' of Doris and her sister barely raised enough concern in the audience to sustain a half-hour cartoon, let alone a feature film - with the long list of issues and concerns facing adolescents these days, the producers chose the softest possible interpretation of what Fat Albert was all about - kids sticking together and helping each out when problems arise - the 'problems' facing Doris were barely worth addressing - even the problems in the cartoon-within-the-movie ('Danielle' running away and leaving school) where more pressing ...

The whole 'cartoon's come to life' scenario was pretty lame - either do a full feature cartoon or make a movie about the characters as if they were real people - combining the cartoon world with the real world just didn't work in the hands of these writers - they could barely muster a single gag in what was supposedly a light-hearted comedy ffs ...

the characters were tampered with in a most displeasing way - Rudy was robbed of his original personality to be made more 'P.C.' - the makers of the original cartoon gave Rudy a cocky, smart-ass attitude to balance out the saccharine righteousness of Fat Albert and Bill Cosby - the gang didn't need anymore 'nice guys', and there could have been a lot of fun to be had with Rudy's character had he retained his original 'edge'. Russell's non-appearance in physical form was puzzling and uneccessary ... where the hell was Mudfoot ?!? ... only the tiniest reference was made to the Brown Hornet - surely something more imaginative could have been written with such an integral and fun character ?

Fat Albert the Movie was a by-the-numbers waste of celluloid and cellulite ...

Fat Albert is well enough intentioned... I do not think that the film makers set out to destroy one of the Saturday Morning Gods in such an atrocious manner. While this genre, like the more successful comic book genre, can be done somewhat successfully (i.e. Scooby Doo), there is a fine line to walk without making the characters look empty and embarrassing. Fat Albert unfortunately does this. It takes the two dimensionality of the original characters and focuses on it until they loose whatever vibrancy they had previously. The story is contrived and supremely predictable. Grandberry is his usual chewing-on-the-scenery self. Thompson is passable as Fat Albert, but should stay far far far away from rap music for the remainder of his days. The only really enjoyable scenes in the movie were the ones with Bill Cosby. All in all, this movie is a total floater. Don't look at it, just flush.

As a long-time fan of the cartoon and an admirer of Bill Cosby, I was looking forward to this movie. I was sorely disappointed.

"Fat Albert" is awkward, ineptly-directed, lamely-plotted. It's loaded with movie clichés that all fail: * The fish-out-of-water jokes are barely jokes at all ("What's this thing?" "That's a phone? Where's the wire?") * The "trying on clothes at the mall" montage doesn't even try to be clever or fun. * The obligatory rap-and-dance number is straight out bad '80s movies.

The whole movie has the tenor of a sappy after-school special, without Kristy McNichol, and it has nothing to offer kids, teens, or adults. Compared to the current slate of kid-friendly fare in theaters now, "Fat Albert" is a fat disappointment.

The story of what happens when Fat Albert and his gang cross into the real world is a mixed bag. Some of it works, some of it doesn't and some of it just sort of lays there and does nothing.

Part of the problem is that Bill Cosby was allowed to write the script. Bill is a very funny man, is wonderful here playing himself, but he can and often does climb up on a high horse and moralize about life and behavior. This moralizing, lesson teaching, and need to be a "family film" hobbles the movie since everything has to have a point or to need to have a message. Its not bad, but it takes away from what could have been a funnier comedy.

Is it worth seeing? Yes, especially if love the old series. But wait to rent it or see on TV since it plays very much like a TV movie anyway.

5 out of 10

My kids and I enjoyed this movie. My 5 year old is already asking when is it coming out on DVD! I especially enjoyed it because it brought back childhood memories of my siblings and I watching 'Fat Albert' on Saturday Mornings and memorizing the song that the gang sings at the end of the program. Wow what fond memories. This movie also showed how African-American kids could just have simple fun and simple problems without depicting them, as poverty-stricken,drug dealers or gang bangers. The story stayed pretty close to the original storyline and their clothing was a perfect match. I definitely recommend this movie for the entire family- it is really worth the money.

The reviews I've read for Fat Albert have been disheartening and for the most part, non-reflective of this movie.

Too many critics cannot put aside their pretentiousness and evaluate this and other movies of the genre for what they are...children's entertainment.

From this standpoint, Fat Albert stands above most of what I have seen with my kids in recent years. Beside a wonderful dose of nostalgia for boomers, this is a movie packed with humor, solid entertainment, decency, and important lessons about life. To me, that's what children's entertainment is about.

And there were bonuses for adults as well...

I thought the cast suceeded in capturing what we loved about the cartoon characters. Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Fat Albert were all on target and delivered more to love in their human form.

I also appreciated the movie's ability to laugh at itself. I cracked up when The Cosby Kids were waiting outside the girl's apartment the morning after they met. They didn't need to sleep, eat, or go to the bathroom...because hey hey hey, they're cartoon characters.

Lastly, the connection to the girl's grandfather Al was a lovely tie-in and the scene at the cemetery where the grown up Cosby gang paid tribute to their friend was sentimental without being sappy.

Can I pick apart small things about the movie? Absolutely! However, this movie provided my family and myself with such good feelings, smiles, and conversation afterwards that there is no need to bother.

Compare this with other kids movies that are chock full of scatological humor and impending sexuality and you will see that Fat Albert stands far and above.

This movie was funny, thoughtful, and brought back many a wonderful memory. Go see it.

Keeping your expectations low is the key to this cute but silly film. The extraneous plot is razor thin and even almost unnecessary as it's merely a joy to watch Keenan Thompson as a live action Fat Albert. This is a pleasant watch throughout, although somewhat underdone if anything. Examples: the film's villain is not very evil, the Bill Cosby cameo is tacked on, and the fish out of water timepiece is not explored for long. I also felt that they didn't concentrate any effort on characterizing the Cosby Kids other than Fat Albert himself. Rudy, for example, in the cartoon was a smart aleck who was the least likable of the gang but in the film, he's a sweet kid who simply dresses like Rudy. Although easy to criticize, the film can't help but be charming and likable without any pretensions. What's more, it's a good choice for children-- I can't think of anything objectionable here that my three-year-old couldn't watch. Rating: 6/10

Do studios have a death wish? They must, for how else can one explain the existence of this live-action, big-screen version of a 1970's cartoon series that very few of the people who are the target audience have ever even heard of, let alone remember fondly? Did studio execs really think there was a huge "Fat Albert" fan base out there clamoring for this movie to be made? The premise of this "Fat Albert" seems designed to cater to all those pre-teens out there with postmodernist tendencies. Through some sort of unexplained fluke of magic, Fat Albert and his "gang" leap out of a TV screen to come to the aid of a young girl who is having trouble fitting in with the kids at school. As is his wont, Fat Albert - whose guttural "hey…hey…hey…" became his official character trademark - dispenses chicken soup sentiment and fortune cookie wisdom as he goes about the business of solving everyone's problems.

Bill Cosby, who was the creator of the original "Fat Albert," has co-written (along with Charles Kipps) a screenplay that is so well-intentioned, so inoffensive and so white-bread bland in its attitude and demeanor that the movie seems to be evaporating even as you're watching it (much as the kids gradually fade away - though it is strangely imperceptible to the viewer - as their time in the real world runs out). Although the film is supposed to be about what happens when these two-dimensional cartoon characters from the 1970's are suddenly confronted with the three-dimensional realities of the early 21st Century, the Philadelphia that is shown to us in the movie - an obvious studio backlot if ever there was one - is so squeaky-clean and homogenized in appearance that the film might as well be a cartoon itself. Thus, the comic tension that should be derived from that juxtaposition of two vastly different worlds never materializes, and we sit in backside-numbing soreness waiting for the movie to end.

Keenan Thompson (from "SNL") brings a certain amount of sweetness and energy to the title character, but the screenwriters and director Joel Zwick have given him zero material of quality to work with. "Fat Albert" may be fine for undiscriminating and undemanding preschool audiences - though most of them probably won't have any real familiarity with or affection for the original reference point - but it is far too juvenile to be of any interest to the people who grew up watching it on TV.

Teenage Doris has a problem. No one wants to be her friend or invite her to their parties. As she is crying over the television's remote control, a tear drops into the device. As she happens to have a Fat Albert cartoon on the set, her sadness seeps onto the title character. Albert insists on jumping through the screen, along with his friends, to help her develop a more positive self image. While they are in the real world, the whole gang adapts to modern culture quickly. They never lose sight of their true goal, however. Will Fat Albert and his crew be able to better Doris' life? It is so satisfying to watch a film for teens and children that is determined to amuse and enlighten without objectionable material. Although the story is somewhat weak and a bit wandering, Albert and the actors playing the gang members are just wonderful, as is Doris and her lovely cousin, Laurie. Bill Cosby himself has a small part in the film, too. If you are a choosy parent, who screens every film before making a decision on a movie's worth, you will probably give thumbs up to this new entry into family features. It has an upbeat message that overcomes any weaknesses.

He isn't really that active anymore in the movie world, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if he made this movie purely for the money. The time was right for it, dozens of these types of movies were being released in those days and always did fairly well at the box offices. It therefor was a safe and secure investment for him to make some quick cash.

I didn't knew Fat Albert anyway. I don't think it has even ever been aired in the Netherlands and even if so, it was before my time. Why make a movie based on a 30 year old animated series anyway? It makes the characters and themes in this movie feel very outdated. It tries to change and update the characters throughout the movie but it isn't done in a very original way.

The writers of this movie should never work on a movie again. You hear that Mr. Cosby? Really, this movie is about nothing and doesn't really go anywhere. The movie of course tries to send out a moralistic message and all but this doesn't work out because the approach of the movie is way too childish, which can for most part be blamed on the story. It's of course ridicules that nobody recognizes Fat Albert and his gang on the street, except by Bill Cosby himself and some very young kids, which is all the more unbelievable since the show aired from 1972-1985. Or a re-runs of it still really that popular? The movie is filled with this sort of ridicules plot holes and simple approach of things, such as the way the character get from the cartoon world to the real world. It's terribly unoriginal and simple all.

The movie had some potential, also with its themes and main character, but it gets all wasted in the movie.

It's basically a really weak comedy, with not only some bad writing but also some weak comedy. The movie doesn't have any good or funny moments or characters in it. Sure, of course the movie made me chuckle a couple of times, but that of course doesn't make a good comedy.

It's also a poorly directed movie, that is very standard and without that many creativity. And with some stupid comedy editing in it. You know, the kind of editing that focuses on a person constantly after every funny intended moment or line of dialog. I don't think it's a coincidence that only mostly weak comedies always have this kind of editing in it.

The acting is disappointingly weak. The movie mostly features unknown and inexperienced actors, which really shows.

By no means one of the worst movies I've ever seen but it's one of the most pointless comedies of recent years. This movie is unfortunately not the only example of a bad recent comedy. I just hope they'll stop making this sort of movies soon, but I don't expect they will, since these kind of movies are still very profitable and therefor attractive to make.

4/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

This movie, if you could call it a movie, is probably one of the worst films I ever saw. This story is about some troubled teenager played by Kyla Pratt who doesn't fit into her high school society. To help her, a 400-pound guy jumps out of the TV and tries to soothe her problems. First off, Fat Albert is annoying. He gets on my nerves by saying "Hey, Hey, Hey" all the time. This ties in with my second point. There is no good acting. The only good part was a cameo scene with Bill Cosby. The script seemed like it was written as a pre-school class project with no help from the teachers. The music is alright, but I am not a big fan of 70's funk/disco. Finally, I wonder if anybody under 18 have even heard of Fat Albert before the film came out. I know I haven't. I rate this film a 2/10.

I wish i could give it lower than a 1. Because it sucked. This film was yet another risk that should not have been taken. I should have left when i could. if you paid money for this film i'm glad you had an hour and a half to sit on your butt watching a fat guy say hey hey hey 24 freaking 7. So if you enjoy fat annoying guys and stupid a$$ movies that are excuses to pig out on milk duds and buttered popcorn this movie is for YOU!!! I hope to the dear Lord that this was yet another film that the directors were high on. Because, if this was a movie they were serious about then Hollywood has seriously sniffed too much white- out. My favorite part you may ask? Hmmmm.....Getting a restraining order for trying to get my money back.

enough said.

OK, maybe if you are a little kid this movie might be good but if you are an adult hoping to capture some magic of the old TV series forget it.

Where did it go wrong? First off, the idea of the characters coming out of the TV because a high school girl is sad because she wasn't invited to a party is pretty lame. Why did they have to come out of he TV? This idea of the longer they are out of the TV they fade is totally stupid. Just have them be kids of the same school and have a regular Fat Albert storyline would of been so much better.

I also don't understand why all the characters but Russell were included in the 'real world'. If you are going to make a real world story have ALL the Cosby Kids in it.

Really most of the kids were pretty lame. Fat Albert was OK. I really liked Bucky - much better than even the cartoon. Dumb Donald was OK. The others - very flat. Wasn't Rudy supposed to be cool - this Rudy was a wimp. At least in the cartoon you could understand Mushmouth but here - I don't think we were even supposed to.

So, unless you are a little kid don't waste your time - you will feel your brain shrink. I compare this movie to the Bullwinkle movie but without a great cast and not even close to as many laughs.

Kenan Thompson stars as Fat Albert in this great family film. The critics didn't like this movie, but not many people should listen to the critics. I thought Fat Albert could've been better. Why would I say that? Well, the movie is kind of fake. The whole Fat Albert gang all come out of the TV. I would like to see Fat Albert as a movie with a plot and not having anyone come out of the TV. Just like "The Flinstones" & "The Scooby Doo Movie". None of them came out of a TV, so Fat Albert could've been a much better film. But overall, the whole entire family should enjoy this! There are scenes that would make you happy, sad and mad at some of the characters. I liked Fat Albert. I thought Kenan Thompson did a good job playing him, and the same with the other characters.

Every aspect of this insipid movie is worth missing. Even the premise of this movie is stupid. An adolescent girl whose biggest problem is that she wasn't invited to a party! WHO CARES! Until a bunch of one note characters crawl through the television to her emotional rescue. There's the requisite fright scene in which Doris feigns shock and horror at this 300 pound anachronism and his numerous, equally anachronistic, friends. I don't think that I need to "expose" the countless inconsistencies and factual, as well as logical, errors, as others already have, and they are obvious if you have seen or, at the possible expense of your sanity, are about to see, this film. The key to this film is to watch the director's commentary. My partner and I were so stunned by the stupidity of this film that we had to see what the director thought of his work. To any viewer's profound horror and astonishment, it seems that Joel Zwick thinks that this film is a masterpiece. I guess that, in relation to the many music videos he's directed, he thinks that he was given a chance to expand his artistic vision. He employed so much hyperbole and bloated self-congratulations that I think he actually thought that he was Orson Welles incarnate, except that Orson Welles actually created a few brilliant films throughout his career and Joel Zwick hasn't directed anything of any worth (unless you liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding and episodes of Full House and Step by Step). Anyway, I don't have to say anymore but that this movie sucks and unless you are a small, easily amused child, you will not like this movie.

I work with troubled teens and decided to invite a student over break to go to the movies with my 4 and 9 year old. He suggested "Fat Albert"--I am so glad he did! The film was absolutely wonderful in its innocence and charm. My teen liked it because of the "fantasy to reality" twist...as well as the cute girls and the great music. He also liked the idea of someone looking out for the "lonely" kid. My little kids thought the jokes were funny, the guys were funny, the music and dancing were"the bomb" and even the plot was even a little suspenseful for a little kid. I loved it because I grew up on the "Fat Albert" series and was just so happy to see and instantly remember all of my old pals. And the hilarious group scenes where the actions so fundamental to the cartoon were just ridiculous to the real life settings were so clever and delightfully funny--I was so pleased! If you're looking for an all-around, no crass or innuendo laden, truly sweet family film--this is the one!!

Growing up I was enjoyed Fat Albert, when I first heard they were making a movie I was a bit excited, until I saw the set photos and heard about the plot. Little did I know when I went to see the film this past Christmas I would actually enjoy it. The movie starts out almost promising enough- with a Fat Albert cartoon. Only it's animated with current technology, and has the obligatory CG in it, since all cartoons these days need CG. Fat Albert and the Junk Yard Kids are playing a game of Buck Buck with the rival kids. Cut to the main character- Doris, a girl in highschool who isn't invited to a party. And it's understandable with a name like that. She goes home and watches Fat Albert, still crying over not getting invited, and one of her tears hits the remote. Somehow, this sends the tear into the TV, where Fat Albert and the gang sees it. Albert sees Doris is upset, and...jumps out of the TV to help her out. The gang follows, and Doris is left wondering what the heck just happened. She says that she's sad because she can't find her backpack. They see it on the couch, and she thanks them and tries to get them to go back into the TV. But, the show's over, and they can't. Yes, they realize they're cartoon characters, which is actually a good touch on the writers' part. I'm sick of movies where they don't understand that they're not "real". But, she's stuck with them until the show's on again, which isn't until the next day at 2:30. They follow her around town, where they find out that she's sad because she doesn't have any friends. When they follow her to school, they make sure to say this in front of the whole class, and tell people to be her friend. This happens a few more times, and keeps embarrassing her. Fat Albert starts to get puppy love for Doris' foster sister (who is a lot like Shannon Elizabeth- she looks decent, but talks awkwardly and can't act). A guy who has a crush on her from school, played poorly by *sigh* Omarion, doesn't like this, and tries to one-up Albert from time to time, failing miserably. Along the way, not much happens, and I think we all know how much Albert will want to go home after getting Doris' sister to like him.

Yes, the plot is predictable, but it's also pretty boring. Don't get me wrong, I tried to like this movie and accept the charm from the characters. But it just wasn't there. The only Junk Yard Kids that do anything are Mushmouth and Dumb Donald. I swear, Bill served no purpose aside from completing the gang. Old Weird Harold had his moments, but never did much else when they were over. Bucky was there to look creepy (he looks like Dave Chappelle fused with Beetlejuice from Howard Stern), and I honest to god don't remember Rudy doing anything important. Yeah, I know the title of the movie is Fat Albert, but why include the gang if you're not going to use them equally, if at all? And the "problems" Doris faces aren't anything big. We don't find out what her real problem is until later on, and I don't get how someone as good looking as Kyla Pratt could have self-esteem issues. Either way, it was a chore for me to sit through the whole movie. You know things are bad when you think it's almost over, then check the time to see that it's only 15 minutes into the movie. A lot of the acting was terrible as well. Kyla and Kenan were the only ones that gave any effort. Omarion was horrendous, giving weird facial expressions I haven't seen since this one koala ran head-first into a parked jeep on Animal Planet. But, while Kenan did look just like Fat Albert, his voice could've used work. Some scenes had him talking like Albert, others had him talking like Kenan. And what was with all the cameos? The umbrella guy who runs around with Andre 3000 was here, a certain ponk band's lead singer, Aaron Carter with his giraffe-neck, and a few others showed up for a few quick minutes. I'll give the movie one extra star for a great ending sequence. The final moments were touching and a nice tribute. It's not something to not show the kids or anything, but it was a nice bit of respect