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Flubber Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 2.0
    37

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally unfavorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 25

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    Although the movie may appeal to kids in the lower grades, it's pretty slow, flat and dumb.

    Read Full Review

  • 38

    out of 100

    USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

    Writer/producer John "Home Alone" Hughes, the Marquis de Sade of kidcom, and director Les Mayfield manage to squeeze the very bounce out of what should have been a can't-miss update. [26Nov1997 Pg09.D]

  • 50

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times John Anderson

    Director Les Mayfield ("Miracle on 34th Street") has his moments, of course, but what ultimately was needed in the case of Flubber was a movie with more bounce and less talk.

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  • 50

    out of 100

    The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

    Though Mr. Williams sometimes seems on the verge of "Aladdin"-caliber improvisation with the ever-morphing green flubber, the film bogs him down with a fiancee (Marcia Gay Harden) hellbent on making him remember a wedding date, and with the full Hughes retinue of thugs and bullies.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    ReelViews James Berardinelli

    In fact, there are times when this movie feels like the latest installment in the over-milked Home Alone saga.

    Read Full Review

  • 67

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    As computer-generated special effects have grown more advanced, they threaten to overwhelm such minor matters as story, character, and emotion. This, however, is not a problem in Flubber (Walt Disney), an agreeably unhinged slapstick jamboree.

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  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety Joe Leydon

    Despite a couple of slow stretches along the way, director Mayfield does a generally fine job of integrating the eye-popping special effects with the simple but serviceable plot. The pace is just brisk enough to satisfy youngsters with short attention spans, and Williams is winning enough to keep audiences of all ages involved.

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  • See all Flubber reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 9+

Many kids will enjoy this silly movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has mild nudity (Professor Brainard stumbles into a life-drawing class), mild profanity (almost inaudible), a sad scene where a beloved robot "dies" and dubious ethics -- the film never confront issues of cheating and solving problems with violence.

  • Families can talk about ideas of stereotypes, the ethics of cheating, even for a "good" cause, and using violence as a means of resolving problems.

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: Stereotypes play a large role, the absent-minded Professor being the hero. There is very little diversity in the cast, no discussion of tolerance.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: Some flubber-coated golf and bowling balls bash villians, a confrontation with bad guys ends in a Flubber-fuelled fist-fight.

  • sex false3

    Sex: Semi-nudity when the Professor accidentally enters a life-drawing class. Relationship issues.

  • language false0

    Language: Mild profanity. Two characters swear (Damn and Hell) very quietly. It is difficult to understand what they are saying.

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: The Professor sells his flying car to Ford.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters refer to moderate drinking.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 4.5
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
5

by StacyWirth

Read all Flubber reviews at Fandango
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