Flubber (1997)

23% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(563,085 ratings)

Although "flub" is defined as "to make a mess of," the word "flubber" is a contraction from "flying rubber." In this remake of the 1961 comedy-fantasy The Absent Minded Professor, Robin Williams takes on the role created by Fred MacMurray and later executed by Harry Anderson on television, while the… More Although "flub" is defined as "to make a mess of," the word "flubber" is a contraction from "flying rubber." In this remake of the 1961 comedy-fantasy The Absent Minded Professor, Robin Williams takes on the role created by Fred MacMurray and later executed by Harry Anderson on television, while the 1961 film's Flubber with anti-gravity properties has now been digitally reincarnated as a translucent green, pulsating, bouncing blob that loves to dance the mambo. Absent-minded college professor Philip Brainard (Williams), employed at a near-bankrupt university, creates the formula for Flubber, yet he can't remember to show up for his own wedding to university-President Sara Jean Reynolds (Marcia Gay Harden). His rival, Wilson Croft (Christopher McDonald), plots to steal Sara and the Flubber from Brainard. Rich, corrupt businessman Chester Hoenicker (Raymond Barry) tries to force Brainard to pass his failing son Bennett (Wil Wheaton), but he soon takes an interest in Flubber after hearing about it from his flunkies (Clancy Brown, Ted Levine). After using Flubber to fly over clouds in his 1963 T-Bird, Brainard realizes Flubber can also improve the performance of the school's pathetic basketball team. Jodi Benson is the voice of Weebo, Brainard's talking, flying household robot, with a video display of Disney clips at odd moments. Many gags are embellishments from the 1961 film, with John Hughes (Home Alone) rewriting the original Bill Walsh screenplay (based on Samuel Taylor's short story, "A Situation of Gravity"). Though Walsh died in 1975, he received posthumous credit for this script. Filming began October 8,1996 in San Francisco. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Les Mayfield
Written By: John Hughes, Bill Walsh
Genres: Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 26, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Jun 16, 1998

Critic Reviews

Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
Manage[s] to squeeze the very bounce out of what should have been a can't-miss update.
Ellen Twadell, Common Sense Media
Many kids will enjoy this silly movie.
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers
The new version is a total dud.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Bring back Fred MacMurray ... a hyper, witless snooze.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Loud, keening awfulness.
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News
One of Robin Williams's unspeaklably bad filler movies, and maybe one of his worst...and that's saying a lot.
James Sanford, James Sanford on Film
Almost everyone in the cast seems to realize they're here purely to kill time between special-effects sequences and the tiresome slapsticky antics served up by screenwriter John Hughes.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Alexander D

OK+
AJ V

An idiotic remake of a fun kids movie from the 60s. Sure Williams tries to make this movie fun too, but overall it's too stupid and ridiculous even for kids.
Bethany M

A funny feel good family film!
Michael E

Lame. Robin williams could have done better
Richard C

C-
KJ P

Funny, but dull!
Conner R

A bizarre movie in every sense of the word. It's too silly for its own good and I must say that I never found it to be an entertaining movie. It's just a reminder that even people like Robin Williams can make stinkers that are this much of a fiasco. It's just a movie… More
A bizarre movie in every sense of the word. It's too silly for its own good and I must say that I never found it to be an entertaining movie. It's just a reminder that even people like Robin Williams can make stinkers that are this much of a fiasco. It's just a movie about plain stupidity.
Leigh R

Can I get some flubber somewhere?
Jason O

I don't see why a lot of people didn't like "Flubber." It might not be Robin Williams's best movie, but it's not bad either. I just saw the movie a few weeks ago with my cousin and we both laughed throughout most of the movie. Robin Williams develops a… More
I don't see why a lot of people didn't like "Flubber." It might not be Robin Williams's best movie, but it's not bad either. I just saw the movie a few weeks ago with my cousin and we both laughed throughout most of the movie. Robin Williams develops a new kind of life in the form of flying rubber, hence the name 'flubber.' He's so into his new experiment that he misses his wedding and his life falls apart. He must try to get back the woman he loves while also trying to keep his new invention from thieves. "Flubber" has many funny parts, but it will also keep you interested and it has a good storyline. If you like most of Robin Williams's other movies, I don't see why you wouldn't like "Flubber." I recommend anyone to buy it any day of the year. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Big hype at the time, now one of Robin Williams's least talked about.
Cassandra M

An absent minded professor discovers a new type of rubber that can be harnessed as an energy source. However his discovery causes him to miss his wedding and lose his girlfriend. While trying to demonstrate his discovery to Sara Jean to win her back, he gets the attention of mobster… More
An absent minded professor discovers a new type of rubber that can be harnessed as an energy source. However his discovery causes him to miss his wedding and lose his girlfriend. While trying to demonstrate his discovery to Sara Jean to win her back, he gets the attention of mobster Hoenicker who wants the discovery for himself. The story here is unimportant - it's all a bit daft and if you look too closely at it, it all falls apart. For example - the professor has created a flying robot that has full intelligence and character but yet he hasn't made any money for himself or his college!, is the flubber alive or not? etc. But really it's all about the set pieces and the jokes. As such it falls down a little - it's good for kids but there's nothing in the crude slapstick for adults. Jokes include the usual "people getting hit in the head" style humour. Williams character is not funny at all - a bit of a weakness in a comedy lead. In fact his forgetfulness is just stupid at times and doesn't have any charm to cover it. The funniest bits actually revolve around McDonald's Wilson - he doesn't get good lines but he has lots of incidental laughs. Ted Levine and Clancy Brown have both done better than this and are limited to comedy thugs - although both were probably glad to be in a big movie. Other well known faces include Raymond J. Barry and Wil Wheaton, although these are also underused. It's not really a movie about performances but I think it's still important. The best characters are Weebo and the flubber. Weebo is quite funny and actually has a deep character - she's the secretary in love with her boss type - she also creates a strangely moving scene. The flubber is good - best in one big musical number halfway through and I wonder if they could have had more imaginative scenes with it as a character rather than just a bouncy ball. Overall it's a kids film - don't expect anything more than that.
Thomas B

blerg
Candy R

An absent minded professor makes a rubbery material that can fly and bounce.
Cassie H

Cute
Bobby H

I havent seen this one for awhile but from what I remember it was decently good, and worth watching. Most things with Robin Williams are. Im not sure about comparison to the orginal though - havent seen it.
Dan S

Ugh, pretty bad.
Rachel F

I love Robin Williams.
Jose Z

it was a good remake from the 60's comedy, the cast is good specially Robin Williams. Good fx's
xGary X

The usual inane and utterly predictable mix of weak slapstick and schmaltz you'd expect from Disney family crap starring Mr. Annoying himself.
Jason S

Family fun.
Dean M

This is the king of laughs with the like-rubber, Flubber. I couldn't stop laughing when two bad guys get their heads hit from a golf ball and bowling ball several times.