I saw "The Absent Minded Professor" when I was a kid and enjoyed it. Now, about 40 years later, I decided to watch it again....and find out if as an adult whether or not I'd enjoy this early Disney live-action film. Well, surprisingly, I did!
The film stars Fred MacMurray as a strange professor who's created a strange anti-gravity substance called 'flubber'. But the problem is no one believes him...even after he easily proves it during a basketball game as well at the school dance. Part of the problem is that everyone is stupid. The other is that the evil Mr. Hawk (Keenan Wynn) is out to discredit him so that he can steal the secrets for himself.
This is clearly a film that works best if you can just turn off your brain and enjoy the picture...something I was able to do. But cynics might thing it a bit silly.... I sure didn't. I think it also helped that despite advances over the years in technology, the simple Disney special effects work well...even today. Clever and fun...a nice family film for everyone...except for the cynics and teenagers (I am being redundant here).
By the way, if you enjoy this film, try Ray Milland's "It Happens Every Spring"...a film that no doubt inspired "The Absent Minded Professor".
The film stars Fred MacMurray as a strange professor who's created a strange anti-gravity substance called 'flubber'. But the problem is no one believes him...even after he easily proves it during a basketball game as well at the school dance. Part of the problem is that everyone is stupid. The other is that the evil Mr. Hawk (Keenan Wynn) is out to discredit him so that he can steal the secrets for himself.
This is clearly a film that works best if you can just turn off your brain and enjoy the picture...something I was able to do. But cynics might thing it a bit silly.... I sure didn't. I think it also helped that despite advances over the years in technology, the simple Disney special effects work well...even today. Clever and fun...a nice family film for everyone...except for the cynics and teenagers (I am being redundant here).
By the way, if you enjoy this film, try Ray Milland's "It Happens Every Spring"...a film that no doubt inspired "The Absent Minded Professor".