January 4, 2005 > Fat Albert

by Susana Nuñez

Even after twenty years of being off the air, Fat Albert continues to be the loveable big guy with an even bigger heart. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids make their debut on the big screen in a live action/ animated film that everyone can enjoy. Bill Cosby's hugely popular character is played by the hilarious Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live who does an excellent job adopting both the characters infamous "Hey, hey, hey" and his signature dance moves. Along with his loyal group of pals, Fat Albert ventures out of cartoon land and into real life for this funny and touching film.

Since the death of her grandfather, Doris Roberts (Kyla Pratt) has lost her motivation to succeed. She has become lonesome, with her only friends being Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which she watches daily on TV. To her surprise, the animated friends come to life right before her eyes; their mission is to bring the spark back into her life. She is uneasy with the situation, since these colorful 70s characters look odd roaming around school, the park, the mall, and everywhere with her! Fat Albert and his gang tell Doris that they won't leave until they've helped her with her problem, but in the meantime, they're living it up discovering the present-day teenage scene in North Philadelphia.

From one of the longest-running animated series in history, Fat Albert is a film both for kids and their parents who grew up watching the group's antics on Saturday mornings. The film will also appeal to those who have never watched an episode. The film, written by Bill Cosby and Charles Kipps and directed by Joel Zwick opened nationwide on Christmas Day so as you decompress from the holidays it is a perfect time to make room for Fat Albert!