The Absent Minded Professor

[herman_the_german]

A few years ago I saw this film (again after many years). My impression of it was that it advocates a weird sort of morality: Cheating is fine as long as you are the little guy! (and, of course, this formula is used in almost ALL of the Disney live action comedies).

I purchased the DVD and saw it again a couple of nights ago. My impression now was that the movie has lots of pacing problems. I was helping my daughter with the film, and, of course, she liked the flying car and the bouncing scenes, but the film has little to offer a small kid. The climax of the film, really, is when they steal the car from the warehouse. It really should have ended there, but, instead, drags on for the trip to Washington, and, finally, the Professor's wedding.

It would probably work better if the bad guy wasn't stopped at that point, but, if somehow he managed to work together with the armed forces to try and stop the Professor. Save the catching of the villain for the end of the film, and have it be part of the climax.

But, also, the Professor, at no point acknowledges being in ANY danger, even, when almost being nuked out of the sky! When being attacked by the goons, it is funny, and he realizes he's got things under control. But when hes up in the sky, he is a sitting duck! There is no sense of urgency either. The potential menace is there, but it is wasted because there are no time limitations.

Anybody else have problems with this film?

[IggieKuzco]

this is one of the films i grew up on so i never paid much attention to that but now that you mention it......

[BasilOfBakerStreet427]

Saw the film when I was eight.I really liked it,as well as the remake.But why won't they remake "Son Of Flubber"?

[donaldduckfan]

i've always loved the flick, especially when i was young. i think the problem isn't necessarily with it's pacing, it's that current movies and shows are paced so fast. a good example of this would be stuff like the powerpuff girls and mighty morphin power rangers, not much story but lots of action going by real fast. all Disney's great stuff, Davy Crockett, Swiss Family Robinson, Pollyanna, Fantasia, etc...., all of these were paced slower than todays standards but while watching i was always and still am hooked.

[IggieKuzco]

Saw the film when I was eight.I really liked it,as well as the remake.But why won't they remake "Son Of Flubber"?

i never saw Son of Flubber... is it any good?

oh... and to answer your question.... i dont think that the remake of The Absent Mided Proffesser was good enough for there too be a sequel for it. Plus... it is very uncommon for sequels to be remade.
and.... i have a sneaking suspicion that disney wasn't trying to make a whole big thing out of flubber and stuf..... i think that they just wanted to bring the forgotten idea up again to the new generation.

done.

[herman_the_german]

it's that current movies and shows are paced so fast. a good example of this would be stuff like the powerpuff girls and mighty morphin power rangers, not much story but lots of action going by real fast.

By pacing I dont mean speed, (I guess I said it wrong), there is nothing wrong with slow buildup, in old or even new movies. I mean that the biggest climax happens in the middle of the film, and the show doesn't end with a bang, but it easily could. All the correct ingredients are there but the film is not as exciting as it could be. It just deflates from the middle portion on. I don't know what to call it, scene construction, maybe?
Anyway, I am definitely against formula filmmaking, but this film ignores the tenets of classic dramatic writing.

I, for one, find old films refreshing in the sense that they do not have the twist endings that all modern films are "supposed" to have, and do not feel the need for a car explosion every five seconds..

[disneyfella]

this is a great flick! honestly, i don't see why it needed a slam bang ending. it wasn't setting out to be the funniest and wildest movie disney made, it was supposed to be a fun, wacky romp. personally my favorite part is when they go to D.C., the comedy in that area is so broad i seriously laugh out loud. i understand what you're asking for, but i can't think of any other disney film from this time that ended with a blowout or big suprise thing, you know? i think the remake might fit your wants better, but there'll always be a place in our hearts for these old classics. i'm STILL looking for the black and white wide screen copy..........

[herman_the_german]

I got mine at Cosco for about $14.00. There must be websites that sell it, but they do not know enough to advertise the difference. That is why I wouldn't get it online.

"i don't see why it needed a slam bang ending"

You guys still don't know what I'm getting at. Let me put it this way, after the mid portion I found it hard to keep my kid interested in it. Going to Washington is just not that interesting from the story point of view. Let's say that this would have been set during WWII and the Government needed the invention to win the war, that would create interest. But as it is the armed forces are convinced that the discovery (or invention) of flubber is a fraud and want nothing to do with it.

Showing the whole of the Professor's trip seems a waste of effort. If the film ended with the Professor flying into the sunset (and to Washington) that would have been a way more poetic and satisfactory ending (not a BANG! but poetry).

[BasilOfBakerStreet427]

To answer Iggie's question,"Son Of Flubber" is a equally good sequel to the first movie(The Absent-Minded Professor).

[donaldduckfan]

no, i get what you're talking about and i agree with you in a way(i think). after thinking about the flow and scene construction, the movie doesn't seem to me to be constructed like a run of the mill movie. it kinda feels more like episodes of a tv show strung together.