What starts off as a biting comedy turns out to have a soft, squishy middle.
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09/07/03
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Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)
22
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:113
Fresh:25
Rotten:88
Average Rating:4.5/10
Consensus: A so-so David Spade comedy with a few laughs.
Theatrical Release:Sep 5, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $22,715,908
Synopsis: In the reverse rags-to-riches story of DICKIE ROBERTS: FORMER CHILD STAR, writer/actor David Spade's string of infectious laughs turn into waves of compassion. Former child star Dickie Roberts... [More]
Starring: David Spade, Mary McCormack, Jon Lovitz, Craig Bierko
Director: Sam Weisman
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Reviews for Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Has a surprising amount of heart, but heart doesn’t replace good gags.
09/07/03
Like its subject, can't climb above earlier, more successful moments.
09/04/03
An amiable-enough Spade vehicle that lacks that certain something, but still manages to generate its fair share of giggles.
09/05/03
Top CriticChild is father to the man in this often funny, but just as often ham-fisted, untrue Hollywood story.
09/27/03
Top CriticClick to read the article
10/01/03
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09/04/03
Quickly pushes aside the satirical promise of its premise in favor of trying to warm our hearts.
10/09/03
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02/10/04
Has nothing of value to offer other than a dizzying number of cameos by former child stars, each of whom is only momentarily amusing as a voyeuristic opportunity to compare the grown-up on screen to the kid ever emblazoned upon our mind's eye.
01/09/07
At best, "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" is a woefully un-funny and unnecessarily sappy remake of Adam Sandler's dopey yet hilarious "Billy Madison." At its worst "Dickie" is a Pauly Shore film with David Spade stuck in it.
09/05/03
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09/05/03
A lot of it is painfully unfunny, but often for bizarre if not entertaining reasons.
09/05/03
Top CriticClick to read the article
02/02/04
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09/13/03
The filmmakers coast on the fish-out-of-water premise, offering a decent number of clever lines and approaching genuine warmth but relying too heavily upon on-the-nose cameos and easy gags.
09/05/03
This was a hysterical, shocking, and depressing movie that will have you feeling that you are old.
11/02/03
There are laughs, to be sure, and some gleeful supporting performances, but after a promising start the movie sinks in a bog of sentiment.
09/05/03
Top CriticDirector Sam Weisman knows the formulas and so do Spade and Wolf -- perhaps too well.
09/04/03
Top CriticSpade will be a former grownup star if he can't find funnier material than this.
09/04/03
Latest News for Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
September 10, 2006:
Box Office Wrapup: "Covenant" Leads Pathetic B.O. Frame
Tumbleweeds blew through North American theaters this weekend as movie fans forgot that there were films playing at their local cinemas. For the first time in three years, no... More...
June 21, 2005:
In Other News...A Super-Suit, David Spade, and Jackie Chan
A joint lawsuit has been filed against Sony Pictures and Revolution Studios alleging copyright infringement for the upcoming superhero flick, "Zoom." The suit, brought... More...
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