Fat Albert (2004)

TOMATOMETER

23%
24%

Critic Consensus: A bland but good-natured adaptation of the cartoon show.

AUDIENCE SCORE

43%

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Movie Info

Bill Cosby's gang of childhood pals evolve from standup comedy to an animated cartoon series to real life in this family-friendly comedy. Doris (Kyla Pratt) is a teenager who doesn't fit in with most of her classmates at school, has been depressed since the death of her grandfather, and is disturbed by her foster sister's willingness to remake herself in order to be popular. One of Doris' few solaces comes from watching reruns of the animated television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, and one day while watching the show she starts to cry, with a tear dropping into her remote. The tear draws big-hearted (and just plain big) Fat Albert (Kenan Thompson) from the animated universe into Doris' real world in hopes of cheering her up and helping her deal with her problems. As Fat Albert and his pals -- Rudy (Shedrack Anderson III), Bucky (Alphonso McAuley), Mushmouth (Jermaine Williams), Weird Harold (Aaron A. Frazier), Dumb Donald (Marques B. Houston), and Bill (Keith D. Robinson) -- adapt to the three-dimensional world and try to teach Doris to believe in herself, they learn that traveling back to the animated world is harder than they thought, which becomes alarming when they start to fade away. The real world also poses some new dilemmas for Fat Albert when he falls in love with Doris' foster sister, Lauri (Dania Ramirez). Bill Cosby co-authored the screenplay for Fat Albert, using his full name, William H. Cosby Jr., and collaborating with Charles Kipps; the project was begun with Forest Whitaker as director, who left midway through shooting, with Joel Zwick taking over in his place.

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Cast

Kenan Thompson
as Fat Albert
Kyla Pratt
as Doris
Shedrack Anderson III
as Rudy
Jermaine Williams
as Mushmouth
Keith Robinson
as Bill
Alphonso McAuley
as Bucky
Aaron Frazier
as Old Weird Harold
Aaron Andre Frazier
as Old Weird Harold
Marques Houston
as Dumb Donald
Dania Ramirez
as Lauri
Omari Grandberry
as Reggie
Omarion Grandberry
as Reggie (as Omari Grandberry)
Bill Cosby
as Himself
Farnsworth Bentley
as Salesman
Aaron Carter
as Teen
Nick Zano
as Camera Salesman
J. Mack Slaughter
as Arthur
Annie Abbott
as Mrs. Forchick
Alice Greczyn
as Becky
Rick Overton
as Coach Gillespie
Keri Lynn Pratt
as Heather
Jeff Leaf
as Basketball Player
Cody Fleetwood
as Kid
Jeanne Chinn
as Woman #1
Russell Cosby
as Russell
Raven-Symoné
as Danielle (voice)
Jenifer Kinglsey
as Woman #2
Jeremy Suarez
as Russell (voice)
Alyssa Shafer
as Little Girl
Dylan Cash
as Emmitt
Damon Elliot
as DJ
Jeff Harlan
as Dad
Earl Billings
as Mr. Mudfoot (Voice)
Catero Colbert
as Lead Teen (Voice)
Charles Duckworth
as Teen #1 (Voice)
Ben Diskin
as Teen #2 (Voice)
Josh Uhler
as Teen #3 (Voice)
Bill Ratner
as Announcer (Voice)
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Critic Reviews for Fat Albert

All Critics (90) | Top Critics (34)

A lot like the comedian's best work: amusing, appropriate for kids, and far more spiritually nourishing and less insulting than typical Hollywood fare.

Nov 17, 2011 | Full Review…
Time Out
Top Critic

At the end of this weak comedy is a strange and touching scene in which Bill Cosby and his childhood pals from Philadelphia, now elderly men, gather at the grave of Albert Robertson, the real-life inspiration for Cosby's bighearted Fat Albert.

May 20, 2008 | Full Review…
Chicago Reader
Top Critic

The Cosby touch (he's co-writer and co-executive producer) is in full effect, schmaltz notwithstanding, as Albert and the gang run through their series of pleasantly diverting escapades.

Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
Time Out
Top Critic

The sermonizing on behalf of good clean fun and hard old effort (Cosby co-wrote the script) is as faded as Big Al's sweater after too many days on earth.

Jan 5, 2005 | Rating: C | Full Review…
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic

Bad in such a bizarre way, it almost becomes fascinating.

Jan 3, 2005 | Full Review…
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
Top Critic

The movie feels small and flat.

Dec 27, 2004 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (90)

Audience Reviews for Fat Albert

How can I not?

Matt Goodman
Matt Goodman

Super Reviewer

½

It ruined the old cartoon, damn you Kenan Thompson

Jim Careter
Jim Careter

Super Reviewer

½

it stays faithful to the source material and the end result is a good, entertaining, and funny film.

Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards

Super Reviewer

Fast Albert is a guilty pleasure comedy that I find myself loving, even if it is way over the top and makes the cartoon look like a child drew it. It's hilarious and actually manages to pull off a decent story. I really enjoy watching this live action version of Fat Albert!

KJ Proulx
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

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