By Reena Dutt
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 25, 1997

And now, back to Flubber

Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. Arizona Daily Wildcat Robin Williams, with robot pal WEEBO, stars as the brilliant but befuddled Professor Phillip Brainard in "Flubber."

Although America started off November by laughing at "The Jackal," a film in which Richard Gere and Bruce Willis call their ability to act into question, they will be laughing at "Flubber" for different reasons. Director Les Mayfield takes the classic "The Absent-Minded Professor " and transforms it into a modern-day comic success, replete with special effects galore.

Professor Phillip Brainard, played by Robin Williams, is fighting the lack of funding in his educational institution through the help of a wacky, versatile invention called Flubber. By using it to help the basketball team to beat their rival school, he can just possibly save the university and his relationship with his girlfriend, as well.

Usually, remakes of classic American films are not as good as the originals. "Flubber" is an exception to the rule. Mayfield combines elements of "Batteries Not Included," "Back to the Future" and amusing digital animation to create a movie that is off-the-wall yet entertaining. The film starts off with the traditional mechanical housekeeper sequence in which breakfast is automatically made after the alarm clock button is pushed by its owner. The house then gets cleaned by other robots, at least one of whom plays an important role in the film, adding an interesting twist to the Disney classic. The robotic additions include a flying friend, WEEBO, who is tragically in love with her owner, the professor. Besides WEEBO, there is also another mechanical addition to the professor's household, who remains, if you will, a robot-extra, that simply cleans the house, not having much of a role in the film.

Another important addition to the movie is the idea that Flubber has a personality. Flubber is a cute and cuddly, hyperactive and friendly thing that uses its energy to travel around other people's houses, basically giving them a heart attack.

Similar to when a small furry animal creeps out of a paper bag, the minute a Flubber peeks out of his, or her, metal flubber-maker, many "aaahh"s and "how adorable"s are heard all over the movie theater. Flubber is even equipped with a magical sense for bringing a chorus-line-style musical spectacular into the 1990s around the middle of the film.

Aside from being entertained by "Flubber," there were a couple of stories on the side that carried the entertainment value of the film a long way. Subplots from different parts of the movie continue to reappear when least expected, giving the audience something more to laugh about. For example, in the beginning of the movie, the professor is playing with his new invention and sprays it all over a golf ball and a bowling ball. After bouncing it once, both balls fly off into space, to disappear until later in the film when the bad guys get hit by the same balls. Several surprises like those run throughout the movie, making it even more fun than the original.

Although this movie seems geared toward younger audiences, there is no doubt that if innocent humor, as well as the comedic presence of Robin Williams, is what you're prone to enjoy, it's sure to entertain. With the help of a little technology, the director has done an exceptional job bringing the old Disney film back to life with a touch of the '90s - something worth watching.