Fat Albert (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fat Albert | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Joel Zwick |
| Produced by | John Davis |
| Written by | Bill Cosby, Charles Kipps |
| Starring | Kenan Thompson, Kyla Pratt, Jermaine Williams |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | 25 December 2004 (USA) |
| Running time | 93 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Fat Albert is a 2004 live-action/animated film based on the Filmation animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. The movie was produced by Davis Entertainment for 20th Century Fox, and stars Kenan Thompson as the title character.
The plot surrounds Fat Albert and the gang leaving the cartoon world and entering the real world in order to help a teenage adolescent deal with the challenges of being unpopular, and not having any friends except her adopted sister. Her unpopularity stemmed from her tendency to withdraw into a world of her own as a consequence of the death of her grandfather, Albert Robertson, who was actually the inspiration for the Fat Albert character. It is up to Fat Albert and the gang to show her that she is special and can make friends.
Unlike some movies that melt the cartoon world with the real world while at the same time keeping the cartoon characters two dimensional, e.g Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fat Albert takes a twist and transforms the cartoon characters into three dimensional humans, who have to come to grips with the differences that exist between their world and the real world.
Critics were not impressed with the film, whose characters may not have been familiar to a generation raised on other recent franchises. But the film did modest business at the box office, making $48 million.
Contents |
[edit] Cast
- Kenan Thompson - Fat Albert
- Kyla Pratt - Doris
- Shedrack Anderson "III" - Rudy
- Jermaine Williams - Mushmouth
- Keith Robinson - Bill
- Alphonso McAuley - Bucky
- Aaron Frazier - Old Weird Harold
- Marques Houston - Dumb Donald
- Jeremy Suarez - Russell (voice)
- Dania Ramirez - Lauri
- Raven-Symoné - Danielle (voice)
- Omari Grandberry - Reggie
- J. Mack Slaughter, Jr. - Arthur
- Rick Overton - Coach Gillespie
- Keri Lynn Pratt - Heather
- Alice Greczyn - Becky
- Aaron Carter - Aaron
- Bill Cosby - Himself
[edit] Trivia
- Despite what the film showed, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids has never aired on TV Land (though Cosby did produce a TV series for TV Land, Fatherhood). Also, the episode shown in the film was produced specifically for the film, was traditionally-animated, and was quite different from the original series episodes.
[edit] Plot
Doris is a sad teenager still recovering from the death of her grandfather, ignoring her foster sister, Lauri's, efforts to bring her a social life. Upon learning that her parents will be away for the weekend, Doris sadly lets a tear hit her TV remote, as the Fat Albert Show is on. The tear opens up the TV world to the real world and Fat Albert and the gang (minus Bill's little brother Russel) go to help her. Doris insists that she is fine, but the gang can't leave yet-their show is over and they have to wait until the next day's show to go back. They follow Doris to school the next day and are amazed by the new technology like laptops and the internet. Fat Albert also notices Lauri and falls in love with her. In another attempt to help Doris, the gang persuades some cheerleaders to invite them all to an outdoors party. With some reluctance, Doris agrees to attend. While they're there, Lauri dances with Fat Albert. Another boy who likes Lauri attempts to make her jealous by dancing with Doris. When Lauri doesn't notice him, he tries to kiss Doris. Doris runs from the party and Fat Albert warns the boy to stay away from Doris. The next day, Doris goes to school, but askes the gang to go to the park instead of following her. Weird Harold, normally very clumsy, joins in a basketball game and is able to play perfectly. Mushmouth, who can't talk normally, is taught how to speak by a little girl. Dumb Donald goes to the library and is able to read and remove his purple face-covering hat. When Doris gets them and takes them back to her TV, Bucky and Weird Harold jump into the TV but the show ends before the others can enter. Fat Albert and Bill have an argument in private about going back (Fat Albert wants to stay in the real world with Lauri). Searching for guidance, Fat Albert meets the real Bill Cosby and tells him of the dilemma. Cosby tells him that his character is based on Doris grandfather, which is the reason why Albert heard her crying outside the T.V. set. Cosby then tells Fat Albert has to return to the TV, or he will disappear. Devastated, Fat Albert tries to tell Lauri that he has to leave, but she doesn't believe he's from the TV and thinks that he is just being insensitive. The next day, Bill, Mushmouth, and Rudy jump back into the TV. Fat Albert waits and goes to a track meet that Doris and Lauri have, then takes them home and jumps into the TV (this convinces Lauri that Fat Albert wasn't lying to her). At the end of the movie, Bill Cosby and his old friends (who the characters in the show were based on) stand in front of their old friend's, Albert Robinson's grave. Doris is also there herself. Then the group of men have a little race, showing no matter old they are, they are still kids at heart.
