Okay, here's the deal. Y'all know how I feel about remakes. On the whole, they tend to do more damage than good to the movie in question, mainly 'cause they never live up to the original. And, more often than not, the problem stems from the supposed need to update the script so it'll fit modern society.
It seems like the sturdy folks over at Disney are knee-deep into the remake racket, especially in their live-action department. We've seen the remake of That Darn Cat, and it blew up in their faces. They remade 101 Dalmatians, making it live-action instead of animated, and it worked for Glenn Close, I guess, and it made money. They just threw out a remake of The Love Bug on their TV show, where they've also showed remakes of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and The Shaggy Dog. Cinderella worked; the Dog loafed.
And, now, Disney has trotted out a remake of The Absent-Minded Professor. A second remake, actually. The first remake, also for TV, starred Harry Anderson, and it was a semi-faithful adaptation. This time, the title is Flubber, and the coveted role of the professor is in the hands of Robin Williams. And, while the remake, on the whole works better than most, there's still something missing from the formula.
Williams is Professor Philip Brainard, a teacher at the ever-lame duck Medfield College. He's considered to be a certified genius, but, well, he's slightly forgetful. Oh, who's kidding who here? He's as addled as a '76 Dodge station wagon running on mouthwash. He's forgotten his wedding day three or four times, he forgets to finish shaving, he forgets which classroom he teaches in. He's a lovably goofy mild-mannered nebbish. His fiancé, Sara, played by Marcia Gay Harden, is the dean of the college, and she's reaching her limit. When he forgets their wedding day again, she gives him the boot.
But, see, Phil had a good reason for missing the ceremony this time. There was a small explosion in his home laboratory, where he was working on a formula, and something amazing has resulted. A compound with a mind of its own, like flying rubber. Or "flubber," if you will. A baddie from another college (Christopher McDonald) has eyes for flubber--and for Philip's former flame--and sets out to steal both for himself.
Director Les Mayfield gets some Grade A work out of his cast, a welcome change from the past few Disney remakes. Harden does her best to balance out the stereotypes of flustered fiancé and angry boss, and she blends the two well. McDonald seems to be settling in as the World Champion Bad Guy in movies. He's been playing the same basic part now for about seven years or so, from Dutch to his current TV show, "Veronica's Closet." His only break in the pattern was in Redford's Quiz Show, playing the game show host Jack Barry, still a little sleazy but not quite as greasy. And, thankfully, The Robinator shows definite signs of busting out of the grave he dug for himself with Father's Day. He's a little more sedate here than in the past, not the usual madman we've all come to know and love. Here, he's almost the straight man for the CGI crew, who give all the little Flubberwads their personality.
There are a couple of glaring questions I have for Mayfield and screenwriter John "Remember Me?" Hughes. One. Why bother with the little flying robot assistant for Brainard? Voiced by The Little Mermaid's Jodi Benson, this funky little doodad is more intrusive than it is effective. It has a female personality, and it's extremely jealous of Brainard's fiancé. It has a little video screen and it flashes quick TV and movie clips to react to certain emotions. All quite baby-duck cute in theory, I assume, but, in actuality, it's a tiresome and unnecessary plot device added for a muddled subplot of a love triangle between two humans and a flying Sony Watchman.
The other question is more of an observation than anything else. Flubber is amazing! It's wonderful! It thinks and reacts and works like a life form! So, why is no one in this movie other than Williams amazed by it? It's like everyone else in the cast just accepts the existence of this miracle stuff like the existance of Redi-Whip. "Yeah, cool, flubber. Now, let's steal it." It makes cars fly and we've got folks yawning at it. Note to Mayfield: How about some amazement on the faces, Les? Check out a few "looking up" shots from Spielberg if you need a visual aid, like the stares from Close Encounters or Jurassic Park, y'know?
What is truly missing from this movie, though, is the spirit, the heart. This whole movie is very clean and sterile, and it doesn't have a lot of soul to it. Forgive me while I wax nostalgic, but what's missing from this movie is Fred MacMurray. MacMurray's Brainard was more charming in his forgetfulness. His mannerisms were perfect, his little stutter fit the speech pattern, and his wonderment at his discovery was more innocent and childlike. Robin seems more reined in, tighter, almost cooly scientific. There's no surprise glee at the basketball scene here. The whole game just looks dropped in becuse it has to be there. The original professor even had a cute dog as a friend rather than some silly zooming sugar bowl. I guess it's asking too much today for simplicity rather than flash.
By the way, be warned. There is a very unneeded "musical number" with all the Flubberwads dancing around and carrying on. It is a showcase scene, there only to prove Disney can do computer animation and to set up a nice marketing device for the inevitable "Flubberwad" Christmas presents. When this scene occurs, consider it a potty break or snack time. After all, isn't that what you do during commercials?
Flubber will rattle many a piggy bank in the Disney offices, for sure. And, in the long run, it is entertaining, especially for the younger crowd or the young at heart who won't be too wrapped up in aliens and sinking ships and secret agents. It ain't the original, but it's a good way to relax and giggle without working your brain through a convoluted plot.
Copyrighted image courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
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under the knife