Flubber (1997)
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An absentminded professor creates a sentient green goo with enormous elasticity that helps him win back his fiancée.
The story
Absentminded professor Philip Brainard is developing a new energy source to save Medfield College from closure. His preoccupation with research has caused him to miss two wedding dates with his fiancée, Sara Jean Reynolds. On their third attempted wedding day, Brainard is approached by his former partner, Wilson Croft, who intends to steal Sara. While preparing for the wedding, Brainard achieves a breakthrough with his robot assistant, Weebo, resulting in a sentient green goo with enormous elasticity. Brainard christens the substance 'Flubber.' After realizing he has missed his wedding again, Brainard is determined to prove Flubber's worth and win Sara back.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Professor Philip Brainard creates 'Flubber,' a sentient green goo with enormous elasticity, while trying to save Medfield College from closure. After missing his wedding to Sara Jean Reynolds for the third time due to his research, Brainard seeks to win her back. He uses Flubber to help the school's basketball team win against rival Rutland College and to make his vintage Ford Thunderbird fly. However, the wealthy sponsor Chester Hoenicker discovers Flubber's profitable potential and tries to seize it. After a series of adventures involving his robot assistant Weebo, Brainard and Sara refuse to sell Flubber to Hoenicker. They instead strike a deal with the Ford Motor Company. After Hoenicker's henchmen steal Flubber and destroy Weebo, Brainard and Sara confront Hoenicker, unleash Flubber to defeat him and his partner Wilson, and ultimately save the college. The film ends with the couple having a successful wedding and embarking on a honeymoon in the flying Thunderbird.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Les Mayfield
- Writers
- John Hughes · screenplay; Bill Walsh · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Robin Williams · Professor Philip Brainard; Marcia Gay Harden · Dr. Sara Jean Reynolds; Christopher McDonald · Wilson Croft; Raymond J. Barry · Chester Hoenicker; Clancy Brown · Smith; Ted Levine · Wesson; Wil Wheaton · Bennett Hoenicker; Jodi Benson · Weebo
- Genres
- science-fiction; comedy
- Themes
- love; scientific discovery; determination
- Tone and mood
- slapstick; comedic
- Premise and plot tags
- mad scientist; robot; flying car; college life
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and Samuel W. Taylor's short story 'A Situation of Gravity'
- Franchise connections
- The Absent-Minded Professor
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics for its slapstick humor and special effects, but it was a commercial success, grossing $178 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 24% · review count: 38; Metacritic · score: 37 · scale: 100 · review count: 19; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film features a holographic human version of Weebo named Sylvia.; Nancy Olson made an uncredited appearance as a Ford Company Secretary.; The film was a remake of the 1961 film The Absent-Minded Professor.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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