Movie Review: Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star

Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star

Although this is the kind of movie I will usually go out of my way to avoid seeing, I'm also a woman of an age who remembers such TV classics as "The Brady Bunch" and "The Partridge Family". With a number of former child stars from that television era in small supporting roles, I was willing to sit through about two hours of David Spade. And you know, it turned out to be almost worth it.

Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star is the story of Dickie Roberts (David Spade), a young man who became a mega-star as a young boy with a hit TV series to his credit and all of the accompanying merchandising to go along with it. But when ratings fell and his show was cancelled, Dickie disappeared off the radar of virtually everyone, including in the end his own mother. Along with a group of his former child star friends (including Barry Williams of "The Brady Bunch", who lampoons himself thoroughly, and former teen heartthrob Leif Garrett who also plays himself), Dickie laments the loss of his fame. But unlike his friends, Dickie remains determined that he will rise to stardom once again. Through a series of happenstance, Dickie learns of an upcoming movie role he thinks wil be the perfect comeback vehicle for him. After begging his agent (Jon Lovitz) to get him an audition with the film's producer, Rob Reiner (as himself), Dickie learns that he doesn't have the depth to play the role because he has no memories of a normal childhood. And so Dickie rents a family for a month so that he can experience what being a regular kid is like. It's in the household of a normal family with its normal troubles that Dickie learns a lesson some of us never learn, but one that's a requirement for anyone to truly become a complete and mature person.

Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star was co-written by David Spade and so one must assume the script was written to play to Spade's strong points. While that assumption is entirely legitimate, it does result in one concluding that Spade has no strong points as an actor. In one poignant scene, Dickie says that he's not a whole human being, that when people look into his eyes they see nothing. That's a strangely apt description of Spade's acting ability. Jon Lovitz is his usual whiny self. Alyssa Milano (who has a small role as Dickie's bitchy girlfriend, Cindy) is also very much a caricature. Strangely enough, it's the former child stars who acquit themselves well. Barry Williams is funny while appearing totally serious about his past as a Brady. Danny Bonaducce (late of "The Partridge Family") remains the irreverent red-head so many of us knew and loved years ago. Leif Garrett, who had a few hits as a bubblegum singer and starred for several seasons on the forgettable "Apple's Way" is something of a surprise in Dickie Roberts. Although the pretty little boy has grown up, it turns out he can hold his own onscreen and still looks good to boot.

I can't recommend Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star as a terrific movie because it's not. It's utterly predictable, and most of the acting is mediocre at best. But kids will like the uplifting story line despite its predictability, and they'll get a real kick out of some of Dickie's "childhood" antics as well. And those folks of a certain age who'd like to spend a few moments waxing nostalgic will find a boy's poker night scene and what goes on during the rolling of the credits worth the price of admission.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star is rated PG-13. It's got a little crude humor as well as some implied sexuality. On the whole, though, I'd say the film is okay for those of about age 10 and up.