Dickie Roberts: Ex-enfant star

I am a big fan of David Spade but he has really fallen off as a comedy genius since his friend and frequent collaborator/comedy partner Chris Farley died sadly several years ago. I thought Joe Dirt was kind of funny in spots but over all pretty disappointing and this movie is even more disappointing. There are a couple of funny jokes in the movie and it is a very good premise for a movie but over all the plot is just too stupid and the jokes are predictable. The fact that David Spade plays a guy who is just unlikeable and a jerk gets old very fast and you can figure out exactly how the movie is going to go like ten minutes into watching it.

"Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" follows a thirty-something-year-old Dickie Roberts (a former child star) as he tries to get back into the acting business. This leads to an audition for a movie that Dickie thinks will bring him back to the people, and have people love him again. However, the director (Rob Reiner) believes that Dickie would have to live his entire childhood to get the part right, which leads Dickie to hire a family.

"Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" is not one of those movies that someone has high hopes for, and it isn't. Sure, David Spade brings out the sarcastic side of Dickie, but I don't think he had the ability to act out the more emotional parts, like when his character talks about being a mess of a human being. His voice is also way too dull, flat, boring and much too sarcastic to actually give an emotional performance.

Then, there are the jokes. Some are funny, others aren't, and this is when I start to doubt the sense of humour in the actors. Jokes are key to comedies, and "Dickie Roberts" didn't really hit it home with theirs.

I expected so much more laughs from this movie, but for what it gave me - 4/10.

David Spade is one of my fave SNL stars and he's made better movies than the rest of his old pals (It's Pat, Coneheads and Master of Disguise are among the worst films ever made). I especially liked him as the voice of Kuzko in the Emperor's New Groove. Here he plays Dickie Roberts: (former) Child Star, a kid at the top, but a man at the bottom and absolutely desperate for a comeback.

His agent (John Lovitz) cannot find him any work outside of celebrity boxing, his girlfriend has dumped him and Dickie's main source of income is parking cars. You get the picture, he's a completely fallen star.

Rob Reiner has a role that Dickie would love to get his hands on but Rob wont touch him because it requires an actor who knows 'normal', someone who knows how to be an adult, someone who had a proper childhood. Desperate to get the part, Dickie hires an ordinary middle-class family (dedicated mum, workaholic dad, bullied son, wishful daughter) to look after him like proper parents.

Trouble naturally follows. But Dickie's hijinks lessen and his new family's tolerance increases. Yes, they do learn from each other and become better people (yadda yadda) but there is just so much fun and craziness along the way and some genuine character moments.

There are loads of celebrity cameos (Tom Arnold, Corey Feldman, Brendan Fraser, Dustin Diamond) and lots of biting satire and the movie industry but the bulk of the film relies upon Dickie learning family values and having fun with the kids, being a kid. Proof positive that he's still the best (former) SNL star.

The only bad thing I can mention is Adam Sandler's involvement as executive producer, something that seriously tarnishes the film and prevents it from having any real class.

The DVD is in great looking 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and quite a few extras.

I watched this movie last night and it was awful. Basically the only funny parts in it were the ones in the commercials. If you are a huge David Spade fan you will probably like this movie. If you are not a David Spade fan you should not waste your time on this movie

This movie is hilarious from beginning to end. Imagine, a Hollywood movie that shows how RIDICULOUS Hollywood is! Spade is terrific, the 'child star' has beens are wonderful and likable in spoofing their own careers. You've got to respect that.

Mary McCormack is both beautiful and very funny in the 'straight role' of the movie. I'd love to see her do more comedy. Did I mention that she is very easy on the eyes? The dude who plays her husband and Dickie's 'father' is hilarious too. His name escapes me. Not many lines, but stole scenes. A confident Spade seemed to let him do that, the sign of a good comedic actor is that HE doesn't have to get all the good lines.

The kids are endearing. The 'stunts' (ie bike crashes) are phenomenal.

Like Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt, he plays that goofy guy who's missing it on most cylinders, but you can't help rooting for.

That's a guy I want in any comedy I see. The underachieving underdog who figures it out in the end and makes good. Spade is terrific at playing that role - and in Dickie Roberts - he's at his best.