Review: Dickie Roberts Former Child Star

Movie #61: Dickie Roberts Former Child Star

Dickie Roberts focuses on a former child sitcom star whose life has tanked after the cancellation of his televsion show almost 30 years ago. He hears of a big movie deal with Rob Reiner, but he's out of touch with being a decent human being. Dickie cannot earn the movie role of a lifetime without getting a clue into reality. He decides to relive the childhood he never had by moving in with a normal suburban family. While living with the family, Dickie learns more about himself as a person than anything he needed to know about the childhood he missed out on. He also helps the family out by giving them a father figure that they lack - George, the father, is a jerk that is never around for his wife and kids. Dickie steps in and heals the wound. Grace, the wife, says at one point "You grew up, Dickie Roberts." It's the best line in the movie. Eventually, Dickie gets the part and George runs away with Dickie's bimbo ex-girlfriend. What seems like a sad moment turns into a happy one because it forces Dickie to make a very grown up decision: family or fame?

The plot of the movie is great, but the film itself is awful. The irony is that the movie that Dickie wants to audition for is better than this movie. Why hasn't someone bought the rights to make Blake's Backyard, or whatever it's called? Now that's a good script.

There isn't really much to say. I sat through the whole movie because it's part of my movie watching goal.

I did enjoy the old child star cameos though. During the credits, there's a song performed by a huge group of 60's, 70's, and 80's stars. It's perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTxvBYmXqjw

Overall, I give Dickie Roberts 2 out of 5 stars.