Flubber
1997 · Directed by Les Mayfield
Original language: English
- comedy
- family
- science fiction
The story
Professor Phillip Brainard, an absent minded professor, works with his assistant Weebo, trying to create a substance that's a new source of energy and that will save Medfield College where his sweetheart Sara is the president. He has missed his wedding twice, and on the afternoon of his third wedding, Professor Brainard creates flubber, which allows objects to fly through the air.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated 1990s studio comedy: primary colors, warm lamplit campus interiors, and a sunny, cartoonish sheen that leans into the goofy physics of the title substance. Scenes are mostly tightly cut medium shots and quick reaction close-ups, with the camera chasing bouncing green goo, flying chairs, and sudden leaps across lecture halls, so the visual energy stays high even in quiet moments. Sound is busy and playful: bouncy orchestral cues, slide-whistle punchlines, and squishy effects that make the slime feel tactile. The vibe is light, silly and warm, the kind of thing for a lazy Saturday afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort rewatch when you want to laugh without thinking. Its pacing is brisk and slapstick-driven, and the emotional register is affectionate and gently romantic: a distracted, big-hearted inventor keeps fumbling his own life, and the people around him (especially his patient fiancée) slowly learn to trust his enthusiasm. Intensity is very low: some mild peril from runaway experiments and a few pratfalls, no violence, no gore, nothing frightening. Best for families, kids, and anyone wanting cheerful, low-stakes screwball fun.
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