This next movie takes us back to Medfield college and the return of Ned Brainard, that absent-minded professor and creator of Flubber. For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.
A Brief Summary
(Taken from D23)
In this sequel to The Absent-Minded Professor, the unpredictable Ned Brainard continues his scientific ventures at Medfield College. The professor’s use of a Flubber by-product, his efforts in controlling the weather with “dry rain,” and his assistant’s discovery of Flubbergas result in a series of climactic incidents that add up to a hilarious finale.
What works
- I like that Tommy Kirk’s character Biff is a much nicer guy and working with Fred MacMurray’s Ned Brainard this time. In the opening moments of the movie, it already shows character growth for Biff.
- Taking place sometime soon after the events of the first film
- At first, I thought how is this college in financial trouble. again. But then I remembered that the college trouble was never resolved in the first movie.
- so it really is more of a continuation of the story rather than a new adventure, which I kind of like. An extension with new events and characters that are the reaction of the events and characters from the first film (with many making appearances in this film as well).
- I love the ad meeting (Flubbercycle, flubbermint chewing gum, flubberin, flubberdent toothpaste). I would have loved to have been in the room when they came up with those. Also, the ad commercial for flubber linoleum (aka flubberoleum) was one of the best commercials ever. Definitely from the 1960s but so great.
- Ned and Betsy are really good together as a couple.
- Having Shelby bring an old flame of Ned’s was the best choice he’s ever made. Gave Betsy a taste of what Ned always deals with when Shelby’s around.
- I’m not sure which I enjoyed more. The Shelby Stomp from the first movie, or the ‘reverse submarine’ that Shelby gets to deal with during this movie.
- The commentator was the absolute greatest. Sardonic humor at its finest.
- From the start of the football game to the end of the movie is collectively my favorite part of the movie.
- highlights include Brainard’s speech about making mistakes and Ed Wynn’s appearance with the giant vegetables/plants.
What may or may not work
- Ned’s idealism and patriotism are more of a hassle in this move than in the first.
- It feels slow. It’s not even halfway through the movie and I feel like I’ve been here for a far longer than the 45 minutes I’ve watched so far.
Honorable Mentions
- Betsy briefly enjoying the finer things was fab before the ad meeting at the Brainards’ home.
- “Now just a minute that’s my dress.” -Nancy
- “Oh, I beg your pardon.” -one of the ad men
- “Betsy, I would like to know who’s coming to dinner.
- “It isn’t as though he were coming all by himself. Besides he was such a good sport about our getting married.”
- “You don’t mean…”
- “I don’t see one good reason why we can’t all be good friends. We’re adults, you know, not children.”
- “You don’t for one single minute mean that…”
- “That dear, sweet, kind, thoughtful…
- “Double-crossing, miserable, four-flushing snake…
- “Shelby Ashton” (both at the same time)
- I personally side with Ned on this. Shelby’s a knucklehead or, as Ned says later, a “pretentious pipsqueak”
- Biff has the imagination of Ned and the logistical sense of Betsy. Basically their spiritual child (he’s Alonzo Hawk’s son)
Side Questions
- Where did the ad men get the basketball footage? Obvi from the first movie but within the story, where did they get it?
Would I watch this movie again?
- I definitely would. Though it’ll be a while before I watch it again (as I put this project first), it was still a fun movie and did have some good comedic moments that I enjoyed.
If you’ve seen Son of Flubber, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!
Rewind to the beginning of the Disney Film Project
Skip back to the previous film with In Search of the Castaways
Fast Forward to the next film with Miracle of the White Stallions
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