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Movies / On DVD / Fat Albert
Fat Albert

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Fat Albert (2004)

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Reviews Counted:81

Fresh:17

Rotten:64

Average Rating:4.3/10

Consensus: A bland but good-natured adaptation of the cartoon show.

Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins

Genre: Childrens

Synopsis: Inspired by the 1970s animated television series, FAT ALBERT transports the loveable characters from their animated universe into the real world. When Doris (Kyla Pratt), a sad teenager in... Inspired by the 1970s animated television series, FAT ALBERT transports the loveable characters from their animated universe into the real world. When Doris (Kyla Pratt), a sad teenager in Philadelphia, turns on a rerun of FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS, her tears compel the always-helpful Fat Albert to jump through the TV screen to her rescue. His friends quickly follow, and to Doris's astonishment, the whole Fat Albert gang magically transforms into real live people right in her living room. Not knowing what to do with her odd new friends, Doris adamantly denies having a problem, and encourages the boys to jump back into the TV set. But Albert can see that Doris is lonely and is determined to find her some friends. As Albert tries to fix Doris's problem, the rest of the gang tries to adjust to their new, unscripted world. Meanwhile, Albert finds himself falling in love with Doris's foster sister, Lauri. But as soon as the gang begins to enjoy the perks of being real, their brightly colored outfits start to fade. Taking this as a sign that they do not belong in the real world, the boys decide it's time to go home. Bill Cosby (co-writer of the film and creator of the original series) makes a guest appearance as himself, warning Albert that he must return to his animated world before evaporating into a cloud of celluloid dust. But before Albert can leave, he must solve Doris's problem. Kenan Thompson (of Saturday Night Live fame) is charming as Albert, who demonstrates the power of believing in one's self by never letting anything (including his size) get in the way of his goals. [More]

Starring: Kenan Thompson, Kyla Pratt, Dania Ramirez, Omari Grandberry

Starring: 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

Director: Joel Zwick

Director: Joel Zwick
Screenwriter: Bill Cosby, Charles Kipps
Producer: John Davis
Composer: Richard Gibbs
Studio: 20th Century Fox

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Fat Albert

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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The Cosby touch (he's co-writer and co–executive producer) is in full effect, schmaltz notwithstanding, as Albert and the gang run through their series of pleasantly diverting escapades.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Director Joel Zwick ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") helms this redundant and distinctively shabby movie that wasn't even filmed in Philly.

Full Review Source: Daily Radar | comment Comment
04/16/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
Daily Radar
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

At the end of this weak comedy is a strange and touching scene in which Bill Cosby and his childhood pals from Philadelphia, now elderly men, gather at the grave of Albert Robertson, the real-life inspiration for Cosby's bighearted Fat Albert.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 1 Comment
05/20/08
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

The movie is bland and boring, relying on lame jokes and a nonsensical story to carry the day.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
Film Journal International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
01/17/06
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I'm happy to report that Fat Albert captures a lot of its source's melancholy appeal

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
03/23/05
Bill Chambers
Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central

Innocently directionless.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
02/08/05
Steve Head
Steve Head
IGN Movies

Its messages are innocuous and may hold the attention of the littlest viewers, but older audience members may find themselves repulsed by their nostalgia.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/15/05
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

Can Cosby seriously believe that this is an idea worthy of his most lasting creation?

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
01/15/05
Peter Sobczynski
Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com

... reminiscent of The Brady Bunch movie, but there's no sense of satire or self-parody to the execution.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
01/10/05
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

This a fun popcorn movie with a PG rating you can feel safe taking the kids to see. And - hey it is fun for adults too.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
01/09/05
Vince Koehler
Vince Koehler
Entertainment Spectrum

...frivolous but flat family fare. So hey, hey, hey—it’s flaccid Fat Albert!

Full Review Source: Movie Eye | comment Comment
01/08/05
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
Movie Eye

...Albert's jolly `Hey! Hey! Hey!' sounds suspiciously like a carnival barker's call.

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
01/05/05
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

The sermonizing on behalf of good clean fun and hard old effort (Cosby co-wrote the script) is as faded as Big Al's sweater after too many days on earth.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
01/05/05
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly

This movie rekindling of Bill Cosby’s long-running Saturday morning cartoon rings of squandered potential.

Full Review Source: Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) | comment Comment
01/05/05
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Bad in such a bizarre way, it almost becomes fascinating.

Full Review Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram | comment Comment
01/03/05
Scott Von Doviak
Scott Von Doviak
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

'Fat Albert' is a massive bore that moves from one predictable scenario to another.**

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
01/03/05
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

Sweet, low-key and funny and should entertain its audience. If it ever finds one.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
01/02/05
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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all

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