(Review originally written at 29 October 2007)
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 It makes the characters and themes in this movie feel very outdated.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
Watch trailer
No comments: