Former child star David Spade (as "Dickie" Roberts) wants to be famous again. The once popular pre-teen best remembered for coining the catchphrase, "This is nucking futs!" parks cars and participates in a boxing match with Emmanuel Lewis, who aims for Mr. Spade's putz and nuts. Spade plays cards with other washed-up child stars. He probably should have trained with Danny Bonaduce. After receiving a tip from Leif (pronounced "Life") Garrett, the comeback-minded Spade visits Meatloaf-turned-movie-mogul Rob Reiner to discuss an audition. Things go bad when Spade is unable to convey a childhood emotion. Surmising this is because he never had a proper childhood, Spade hires a typical suburban family to "adopt" him...
Spade learns how to act from little "brother" Scott Terra (as Sam Finney) and "sister" Jenna Boyd (as Sally Finney). He learns how to ride a bicycle and admires beautifully-shaped "mother" Mary McCormack (as Grace).
The acting "family" and Jon Lovitz (as Sidney Wernick) are fine. The story takes a few left turns and lessons are learned. How awful this film is may depend on how familiar you are with the many celebrities and "Hollywood" references herein. Or, it may not. Everything is wrapped up with a group sing-a-long in the "We Are the World" style. It somehow manages to be threatening, embarrassing, inaccurate and revelatory. All ends up so wretched it must be remembered this is a comedy - although it's hard to laugh with your jaw on the floor.
** Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star (9/3/03) Sam Weisman ~ David Spade, Scott Terra, Jenna Boyd, Mary McCormack
Spade learns how to act from little "brother" Scott Terra (as Sam Finney) and "sister" Jenna Boyd (as Sally Finney). He learns how to ride a bicycle and admires beautifully-shaped "mother" Mary McCormack (as Grace).
The acting "family" and Jon Lovitz (as Sidney Wernick) are fine. The story takes a few left turns and lessons are learned. How awful this film is may depend on how familiar you are with the many celebrities and "Hollywood" references herein. Or, it may not. Everything is wrapped up with a group sing-a-long in the "We Are the World" style. It somehow manages to be threatening, embarrassing, inaccurate and revelatory. All ends up so wretched it must be remembered this is a comedy - although it's hard to laugh with your jaw on the floor.
** Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star (9/3/03) Sam Weisman ~ David Spade, Scott Terra, Jenna Boyd, Mary McCormack