Fat Albert is a 2004 live-action/animated film based on the
FilmationFilmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
animated series
Fat Albert and the Cosby KidsFat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including the titular one. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1971 and ran until 1985...
. The movie was produced by
Davis EntertainmentDavis Entertainment is an American independent film production company, founded by John Davis in 1985.-Selected filmography:* Predator * License to Drive * Little Monsters * Predator 2 * Shattered...
for
20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation , also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox, is one of the six major American film studios...
, and stars
Kenan ThompsonKenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member of Saturday Night Live. He is also known for his titular role in Fat Albert, his role as a former cast member of All That, and for his starring role as Kenan Rockmore in the sitcom Kenan & Kel. He resides in Los...
as the title character.
The plot surrounds
Fat AlbertFat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including the titular one. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1971 and ran until 1985...
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 foster 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 meld the cartoon world with the real world while at the same time keeping the cartoon characters two dimensional, e.g.
Who Framed Roger RabbitWho Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 fantasy comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Steven Spielberg and based on Gary K. Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures, under the Touchstone banner and co-produced by Amblin Entertainment...
, 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 (like
EnchantedEnchanted may refer to:* Enchanted , a 1990 album by Marc Almond* Enchanted , a 1998 album by Stevie Nicks* Enchanted , a 2007 film produced by Walt Disney Pictures...
).
Plot
The film opens with an animated sequence featuring Fat Albert (
Kenan ThompsonKenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member of Saturday Night Live. He is also known for his titular role in Fat Albert, his role as a former cast member of All That, and for his starring role as Kenan Rockmore in the sitcom Kenan & Kel. He resides in Los...
) performing the classic theme song "Gonna Have A Good Time" .
In real life, Doris (
Kyla PrattKyla Alissa Pratt is an American actress and musician. She is credited as Kyla A. Pratt or Kyla Pratt.-Early life and acting career:...
) is a sad teenager still recovering from the death of her grandfather, ignoring her foster sister, Lauri's (
Dania RamirezDania Ramirez is a Dominican TV film actress.She is most recently known for playing a recurring character during the last season of The Sopranos and as Maya Herrera in Heroes. She also played female antagonist Callisto in X-Men: The Last Stand.-Early life:Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo,...
), 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 (
Keith RobinsonKeith Robinson is an American actor and R&B singer.-Early life:Robinson was born in Kentucky, grew up in the Evans, Georgia suburb of Augusta, and later moved to Atlanta...
, Shedrack Anderson III,
Jermaine WilliamsJermaine Williams is an American actor and dancer. He dances for the Norwood Kids Foundation.He is appeared in the spoof film The Comebacks as iPod. He was Mush Mouth in Fat Albert...
,
Alphonso McAuleyAlphonso McAuley is an American actor who played Bucky in the Fat Albert movie. He also played Orsten Artis in the 2006 movie based on the true story of the Texas Western Miners in Glory Road and Walt in the movie Pride....
,
Aaron FrazierAaron Andre Frazier is an American actor who is best known for playing Old Weird Harold in Fat Albert....
and
Marques HoustonMarques Barrett Houston is an American R&B singer and actor. He is a former member of the R&B singing group Immature/IMx and has since gone solo.-Early life:...
) (minus Bill's little brother Russell (
Jeremy SuarezJeremy Steven Suarez is an American actor perhaps best known for his starring role of Jordan Thomkins, Bernie Mac's nephew, on The Bernie Mac Show. His first major movie role was in the 1996 film, Jerry Maguire, in which he played Tyson Tidwell, son of Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character Rod Tidwell...
) 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. An annoying pest named Reggie (
OmarionOmari Ismael Grandberry , better known as Omarion, is a American Grammy-nominated R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of B2K...
), who has a desperate crush on 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 asks 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 pink face-covering hat.
When Doris gets them and takes them back to her TV, Bucky, Dumb Donald(who's eyes float in the TV without the hat on), 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 literally meets his maker, Mr. Cosby (
Bill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, The Bill Cosby Show,...
as himself) and tells him of the dilemma. Mr. Cosby tells him that his character is based on Doris's grandfather, which explains Doris's confusion over why Albert seems so familiar to her. Mr. Cosby then tells Fat Albert that he has to return to the TV, or he will turn into
celluloidCelluloid is the name of a class of compounds created from nitrocellulose and camphor, plus dyes and other agents. Generally regarded to be the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1856 and as Xylonite in 1869 before being registered as Celluloid in 1870. Celluloid is easily...
dust. 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, Mr. Cosby and his old friends (who the characters in the show were based on) stand in front of their old friend Albert Robertson's grave. Doris is also there. Then the group of men have a little race, showing no matter how old they are, they are still kids at heart, the same kids from the TV show that they helped Bill Cosby inspire.
Before the end credits start, Fat Albert is trying to leap out of the movie screen but his pals are pulling him back. He points out that people in the audience need help and he even tells someone in the back of the theater that he/she needs to come back and finish watching the credits. The boys pull Fat Albert back inside and the end credits resume beginning with the a blend of both the animated characters and the live-action characters singing the Fat Albert Theme Song.
Cast
- Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member of Saturday Night Live. He is also known for his titular role in Fat Albert, his role as a former cast member of All That, and for his starring role as Kenan Rockmore in the sitcom Kenan & Kel. He resides in Los...
as Fat Albert
- Kyla Pratt
Kyla Alissa Pratt is an American actress and musician. She is credited as Kyla A. Pratt or Kyla Pratt.-Early life and acting career:...
as Doris Robertson
- Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, The Bill Cosby Show,...
as Mr. Cosby (Himself)
- Dania Ramirez
Dania Ramirez is a Dominican TV film actress.She is most recently known for playing a recurring character during the last season of The Sopranos and as Maya Herrera in Heroes. She also played female antagonist Callisto in X-Men: The Last Stand.-Early life:Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo,...
as Laurie Robertson
- Shedrack Anderson III as Rudy
- Omarion
Omari Ismael Grandberry , better known as Omarion, is a American Grammy-nominated R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of B2K...
as Reggie
- Marques Houston
Marques Barrett Houston is an American R&B singer and actor. He is a former member of the R&B singing group Immature/IMx and has since gone solo.-Early life:...
as Dumb Donald
- Jermaine Williams
Jermaine Williams is an American actor and dancer. He dances for the Norwood Kids Foundation.He is appeared in the spoof film The Comebacks as iPod. He was Mush Mouth in Fat Albert...
as Mushmouth
- Aaron A.Frazier as Old Weird Harold
- Alphonso McAuely as Bucky
- Jeremy Suarez
Jeremy Steven Suarez is an American actor perhaps best known for his starring role of Jordan Thomkins, Bernie Mac's nephew, on The Bernie Mac Show. His first major movie role was in the 1996 film, Jerry Maguire, in which he played Tyson Tidwell, son of Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character Rod Tidwell...
as Russell (voice)
- J. Mack Slaughter, Jr.
J. Mack Slaughter, Jr. is an American television and film actor and singer.-Career:Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Slaughter began acting in local theatre as a child. At the age of 15, he successfully auditioned for a boy band started by a radio station in Dallas. In 2001 the band broke up, after which...
as Arthur
- Alice Greczyn
Alice Greczyn is an American actress who starred in the 2006 NBC television series Windfall, playing the teenager Frankie Townsend. She has also played the part of Sage on the ABC family show Lincoln Heights. In 2008 she played Mandy on Privileged...
as Becky
Cameo Appearances
- Raven-Symone
Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman , known professionally as Raven-Symoné or Raven, is an American actress, singer-songwriter, fashion designer, and television producer. She is best known for her television roles as Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show, Nicole Lee on Hangin' with Mr...
as Danielle (voice)
- Aaron Carter
Aaron Charles Carter is an American singer. He is the younger brother of singer Nick Carter, from the boy band Backstreet Boys. He came to fame as a pop and hip hop singer in the late-1990s, establishing himself as a star among preteen and teenage audiences during the early-2000s...
as Darren (credited as "Kid")
- Joel Madden
Joel Ryan Reuben Madden is the lead vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, a record producer, actor, and a DJ.-Early life:...
as Dude with Mohawk
- Fonzworth Bentley
Derrick Watkins, popularly known as Fonzworth Bentley, is a musician and author. He is perhaps best known for being Sean Combs' former personal valet & assistant, as first seen in Making the Band 2, and is currently the host of MTV's From G's to Gents...
as Salesman
Box office and critical reception
Critics were not impressed with the film, whose characters may not have been familiar to a generation raised on other recent franchises, though the film did modest business at the
box officeA box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to a venue. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall, or at a wicket...
, making
$The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States. The U.S. dollar is normally abbreviated as the dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies and from others that use the $ symbol. It is divided into 100 cents .The U.S...
48 million.
Production details
- Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney is an American singer-songwriter and actor. McCartney rose to fame in the early 2000s as member of the boy band Dream Street. He branched into a solo career, having appeared in the television series Summerland and as a recurring character in the ABC Family series Greek.-Early...
's song, "Get Your Shine On"Get Your Shine On" is the third single released from Jesse McCartney's debut album Beautiful Soul in Australia and New Zealand. "Because You Live" was released as the third single in North America and Europe. It was featured in the 2004 film Fat Albert...
" is sung in the film. It is mistaken as an Aaron CarterAaron Charles Carter is an American singer. He is the younger brother of singer Nick Carter, from the boy band Backstreet Boys. He came to fame as a pop and hip hop singer in the late-1990s, establishing himself as a star among preteen and teenage audiences during the early-2000s...
song, because Carter is in the film.
- Joel Madden
Joel Ryan Reuben Madden is the lead vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, a record producer, actor, and a DJ.-Early life:...
also makes a cameo in this movie. He is in the scene where Kyla PrattKyla Alissa Pratt is an American actress and musician. She is credited as Kyla A. Pratt or Kyla Pratt.-Early life and acting career:...
's character brings the boys to her school. He has a mohawk and a made shirt with a sweaterA sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. They are usually worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top. Sweaters tend to be, and in earlier times always were, made from wool; however, they can be made of cotton, synthetic...
probably to cover his tattoos.
- Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member of Saturday Night Live. He is also known for his titular role in Fat Albert, his role as a former cast member of All That, and for his starring role as Kenan Rockmore in the sitcom Kenan & Kel. He resides in Los...
impersonated Bill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, The Bill Cosby Show,...
on All ThatAll That is an American live-action, sketch comedy-variety show that aired on the Nickelodeon cable television network featuring short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. The theme song for All That was performed by TLC...
and Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a weekly late-night sketch comedy and variety show filmed in New York City. It made its debut on October 11, 1975, under a slightly different title. The show features a regular cast of comedy actors, joined by a guest host and musical act...
.
- The filming locations were in Philadelphia, Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second largest in the United States. Often abbreviated as L.A. and nicknamed The City of Angels, Los Angeles has an estimated population of 3.8 million and spans over in Southern California...
, and Valencia, Santa Clarita, California.
External links