Although Fat Albert is smart enough to poke fun at itself director Joel Zwick can't quite conjure up any modern relevance.
Fat Albert (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
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
Reviews for Fat Albert
Fond, nostalgic memories of the '70s cartoon Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids will be instantly erased when the infectious theme song ends and this live-action feature's utterly preposterous story line begins.
The screen version of the animated television series Fat Albert opens with a glint of promise. From there, the movie, alas, just lies down and dies.
There are better, more artful movies in the theaters this bountiful holiday season, but few so generous-spirited and none that will leave you feeling so cheerful.
In the old days, Fat Albert faced real world problems ... issues that certainly still exist, except in today's Hollywood, where the worst thing that can happen to a child is not having a date for the afterschool rave.
It's sad to see a comic veteran like Cosby pimping out his own franchise for a quick buck. But perhaps a rich old guy can't live on Jell-O pudding ad residuals forever.
Call me a sap. Call me a sucker. But Fat Albert couldn't help but make me smile.
Pure of heart, devoid of toilet humor, it sticks close enough to Bill Cosby's cartoon series to pass muster.
A tame, inoffensive little comedy that's never heinous enough to stink up the theater completely, even though it rarely rises above mediocrity.
The movie ambles along at a pleasant, undemanding pace, with good-natured humor.
It's a harmless, trivial little picture that is best saved for video when the price of admission is more in line with the value.
It's pretty painless viewing, but the uneven suspension of disbelief and its obviousness will only appeal to little ones. The rest will write this off as a bit of fluff from the junkyard.
Albert doesn’t embarrass the original creation like it had every right to do, and delivers the Cosby-infused world with minimal pushing or shoving.
Latest News for Fat Albert
January 18, 2005:
Coach Carter Victorious over MLK Weekend
Audiences celebrated this Martin Luther King weekend by watching the sports drama Coach Carter starring Samuel L. Jackson. Coach Carter marks the movie debut of popular R&B... More...
January 10, 2005:
"White Noise" Surprises, But Fails to Dethrone "Meet the Fockers"
"Meet the Fockers" continued to laugh its way to the bank and crossed the $200M mark in its third week of release as the box office champ, with an estimated weekend... More...
January 03, 2005:
BOX OFFICE: Meet the Fockers Rings in the New Year
In the absence of any viable challengers, "Meet the Fockers" continued its dominance at the box office for the second week in a row with an estimated weekend take of... More...
December 27, 2004:
BOX OFFICE: Christmas Crowd Meet the Fockers
With no "Lord of the Rings" movies to contend with this Christmas weekend, "Meet the Fockers," which opened last Wednesday, became the best Christmas weekend... More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 67% 67% | Public Enemies |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 95% 95% | The Cove |
| 85% 85% | World's Greatest Dad |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Fat Albert at Rotten Tomatoes
- Fat Albert at IGN
- Fat Albert at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

