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Movies / On DVD / Fat Albert
Fat Albert

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Fat Albert (2004)

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21 %
Tomatometer

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Reviews Counted: 80

Fresh: 17

Rotten:63

Average Rating: 4.4/10

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 Philadelphia, turns on a rerun of FAT ALBERT AND... 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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Ratings Image

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
Ratings Image

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 Comment
05/20/08
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image

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
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
Ratings Image

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
Film Freak Central
Ratings Image

Innocently directionless.

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

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
Austin Chronicle
Ratings Image

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
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image

... 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
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Ratings Image

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
Entertainment Spectrum
Ratings Image

...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
Movie Eye
Ratings Image

...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
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)
Ratings Image

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
Entertainment Weekly
Ratings Image

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
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Ratings Image

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
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Ratings Image

'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
Sympatico.ca
Ratings Image

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
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Ratings Image

At heart a good intentioned family film

Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment Comment
01/02/05
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com
Ratings Image

[L]aunches itself into the stratosphere of idiocy when it ends up making itself entirely moot...

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
12/31/04
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
Ratings Image

You're gonna have a good time (at least some of the time) while they do their thing.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
12/31/04
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Related Forums for Fat Albert

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FAT ALBERT is the last big fat REMAKE of 2004, that's #18 folks ... HEY! HEY HEY
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