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"DICKIE ROBERTS FORMER CHILD STAR"
(2003) (David Spade, Mary McCormack) (PG-13)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Mild Minor *Heavy Minor Minor
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Moderate None Minor Mild Heavy
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Heavy Minor Moderate Moderate Moderate


QUICK TAKE:
Comedy: A former child star hires a family to teach him about normal life so that he can land a lucrative, comeback part in a major movie.
PLOT:
Dickie Roberts (DAVID SPADE) is a 35-year-old parking valet who's fallen on hard times, as he's never been able to match the success of being a former child star on the 1970s TV sitcom, "The Glimmer Gang." When not hanging out with fellow former child stars and performers, or having his girlfriend, Cyndi (ALYSSA MILANO), dump him, Dickie hopes that his agent, Sidney Wernick (JON LOVITZ), can get him an important part that will begin his comeback.

He gets that chance when he hears that director Rob Reiner (ROB REINER) is casting for his next picture. Reiner thinks that Dickie is physically perfect for the part, but worries that since Dickie never had a normal childhood, he might not be able to handle the emotional aspect of the role.

With a few months before Reiner makes his final decision, Dickie decides to hire a family to teach him what it's like to grow up in a normal household. Accordingly, he shows up at the steps of the Finney house where car salesman dad George (CRAIG BIERKO) has agreed to the arrangement without first consulting his wife, Grace (MARY MCCORMACK), or their young kids, Sam (SCOTT TERRA) and Sally (JENNA BOYD).

None of the latter are particularly thrilled about the prospect of a stranger moving in with them for a month. Despite that and various setbacks along the way, however, they eventually come to like and help him, just as he does for them, all while hoping to learn enough to land the lucrative part.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're fans of Spade, anyone else in the film or goofy comedies, they just might.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For crude and sex-related humor, language and drug references.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • DAVID SPADE plays a former child star who wants his shot at a career resurrection, but must hire Grace's family to teach him what it's like to have a normal family life. He briefly uses profanity and has unorthodox ways to help them.
  • MARY MCCORMACK plays a housewife and hopeful interior decorator who initially isn't happy to have Dickie in her house, but eventually warms up to him. She briefly uses profanity.
  • JON LOVITZ plays Dickie's low-end agent who will do anything to get him the part in Reiner's movie.
  • CRAIG BIERKO plays Grace's husband who isn't happy being married or a family man and sees Dickie as a means of attaining happiness.
  • ALYSSA MILANO plays Dickie's girlfriend who dumps him but later returns only to run off with another man.
  • SCOTT TERRA and JENNA BOYD play Grace's kids who initially don't like Dickie, but warm up to him once he helps them out in various ways.
  • ROB REINER plays himself, a movie director who's considering hiring Dickie for a role in his next movie.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    Here's a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some sexually related dialogue and humor are present (with a few instances being gay-related), several women are seen in revealing attire, and a young teen does a highly sexualized dance number.

    Various forms of imitative behavior and crude humor are present, as is some slapstick style material, while some brief hitting occurs. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes (all played for laughs), while several forms of liquor are present and some drug references are made. Some tense family material is also present (talk of parents abandoning kids, a strained marriage, etc.) but it's similarly played for laughs.

    If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • We see a photo of Dickie's mom (while pregnant) holding a drink and cigarette. We later see a live version of the same at an older age (but not pregnant).
  • Trying to meet stars who will get him a meeting with Rob Reiner, Dickie attends an AA meeting. He later attends what he believes is another AA meeting and fakes talk about being wasted, etc.
  • Some guys have beer in front of them while playing poker.
  • There's talk of beer and Dickie then shows a 6-pack to Sam and Sally who indicate they're too young to drink it (all of them end up drinking root beer).
  • Dickie jokingly rattles off all sorts of slang terms for cocaine (such as "booger sugar").
  • George mentions that salesmen he knows like to drink.
  • Wine is served with dinner.
  • Dickie tastes some already opened champagne and then he and Cyndi have some.
  • George tells Cyndi to be useful and get him a drink. She then throws a bottle that hits him on the head.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • There's talk of material in Dickie's autobiography being about him having a whistle and light bulb up his butt.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • All of the following is played for comedy rather than realism.
  • We see a photo of Dickie's mom (while pregnant) holding a drink and cigarette.
  • We hear that Dickie's mom left him when his fame waned.
  • Cyndi dumps Dickie (and leaves him stranded in the desert), later returns when she think he might be famous again, and then runs off with another man.
  • Dickie says that one will never get anywhere in life if they don't bend the rules a bit. He then takes someone's car while working as a parking valet.
  • We hear that Dickie hit on a man's wife despite knowing her husband.
  • Dickie doesn't hold an elevator for a harried woman carrying many items and we later see her with a bump on her head from hitting the closed door (which we hear).
  • Rob Reiner tells a story about an actor commenting that an actress was a chick with nice "boobs."
  • We hear that George agreed to "adopt" Dickie for a month without first asking Grace. He also has a demeaning attitude toward her.
  • Some viewers might not like when Dickie says he's going to nail the part "like Jesus the carpenter."
  • Sam and Sally initially don't like Dickie being in their house and he overhears them saying that.
  • After a mean neighbor confronts him and Grace, Dickie makes fun of her being overweight (various comments, such as her being too big for the sidewalk). He later confronts some overweight bullies (who are picking on Sam) and mocks their weight.
  • A bully picks on Sam, repeatedly flicks his ear and says to Sally, "You little bitch."
  • To help Grace get directions to an interview, Dickie calls 911 and reports a fire at the address so that they can follow some fire trucks to it.
  • Dickie, Grace and the kids try to cover up what appears to be a case of the family dog killing the neighbors' rabbit (but we later learn that the rabbit was already dead).
  • George is mean to Grace again and there's some talk (between Grace and Dickie) about her strained marriage.
  • George stares at Cyndi's clothed butt as she bends over (and he makes kissing motions with his mouth), all in front of Grace.
  • We hear that a man beat up Rob Reiner (thinking it was Dickie from an earlier incident).
  • We hear that George ran off with another woman.
  • George tells Cyndi to be useful and get him a drink. She then throws a bottle that hits him on the head.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Sam and Sally scream as Dickie tells a "scary story" (about his sitcom being canceled), but are really screaming about a tarantula that's crawling across his shoulder (played for laughs).
  • We see the family dog carrying the limp body of the neighbor's dead rabbit (it's dirty but not bloody, although the sight might upset some viewers sensitive to such material).
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • We see an old photo of Dickie as a child holding some toy cowboy guns.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "I'll bust his f*cking head," "You're such a d*ck," "Holy sh*t," "Shizzit" (said many times, including by Sally, in place of the "s" word), "Oh, shizzit," "That is some cool shizzit," "This is nucking futs" (said several times), "Horny," "You suck," "Shut up," "I think you're just a puss," "Loser," "Moron," "(You) Idiot," "My punk bitch wife" (written about Dickie by another man), "Where the hell have you been?" "Screw you," "Bastard(s)," "Smell you later, stink bomb," "Beating the crap out of you," "Kicking ass," "Booty call," "No freaking way," "I'm gonna nail this bastard" (get a part), "Holy crap (on toast)," "Stranger danger," "What happened, bitch?" (Dickie to a garden hose), "You're an idiot," "Freaking me out," "Jerk," "Let me go drain the main vein" (urinate), "Pissed him off," "Crappy," "Freak out," "Sucked," "Wussy," "Insane in the membrane," "Freak," "You creeps," "You little bitch" (said by a bully to Sally), "Screwed up," "Blow it out your ass," "Bitching cool," "What the hell did you do?" "Slut" (said twice under a cough), "Nuts" (crazy) and "Take a piss."
  • Some miscellaneous characters have tattoos.
  • Cyndi wears a midriff-revealing top.
  • Dickie participates in a celebrity boxing match with Emmanuelle Lewis where the latter jumps down and lands hard on Dickie's crotch.
  • Dickie pours cooking oil (instead of water) onto a Slip and Slide and then runs and jumps on it (he slides off it, crashing through a small wooden fence).
  • Sam and Dickie loudly belch and then talk while doing so.
  • After a mean neighbor confronts him and Grace, Dickie makes fun of her being overweight (various comments, such as her being too big for the sidewalk). He later confronts some overweight bullies (who are picking on Sam) and mocks their weight.
  • When a rude guy wants a photo of Dickie, he takes the guy's camera, sticks it down his pants and takes a few shots.
  • Dickie gives "the finger" with both hands to some bullies.
  • To help Grace get directions to an interview, Dickie calls 911 and reports a fire at the address so that they can follow some fire trucks to it.
  • A young teen (if that) does a highly sexualized pep squad tryout routine (with suggestive moves and the camera focusing on her clothed butt, etc.) to a sexualized song.
  • That same teen also wears a midriff revealing top.
  • Dickie playfully says that there's a prize inside a box of cereal and then pulls out his hand to reveal "the finger" to Grace.
  • Dickie throws a cork that hits Cyndi on the head (to act as if he's just opened the bottle).
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • Some playfully suspenseful music plays in one scene.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • Some songs had lyrics that we couldn't hear or understand, thus offering the possibility of potentially objectionable material being in them.
  • A song has some sexually related (but not explicit) lyrics (including about wanting to be bad, etc.).
  • A song has lyrics about the curves of a woman's body and something about whenever the singer feels naughty.
  • The words "ass" and "crap" are used in a song sung during the end credits.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 1 "f" word, 1 "s" word, 1 slang sexual term ("bang"), 1 slang term using male genitals ("d*ck"), 1 for breasts ("boobs"), 12 asses (1 used with "hole"), 8 craps, 3 damns, 2 hells, 6 uses of "Oh my God," 3 of "God," 2 each of "My God" and "Oh God" and 1 use each of "G-damn" and "Holy God Almighty."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • We see several views of a shapely woman in a small bikini (that shows cleavage and part of her lower butt) in a boxing ring.
  • Some miscellaneous women show cleavage.
  • Cyndi shows some cleavage.
  • A comment is made about a woman being a sex addict. Another comment is made about "booty call."
  • Rob Reiner tells a story about an actor commenting that an actress was a chick with nice "boobs."
  • A stereotypically gay man comes on to Dickie (during an audition to be his role model parent) and suggestively eats a Twinkie while saying something about it or Dickie teasing him. Later in the film, that same man suddenly kisses Dickie on the lips and says that it's hot (causing him to open his shirt).
  • Dickie tells Sam and Sally, "Your mom's really hot" (which disgusts them) and then asks what the "backyard" (her butt) is like, asking about a G-string or whether she wears grandmother style underwear. He then asks if "they" (her breasts) are real, adding that he bumped into them earlier (and makes the "boing" sound).
  • Grace walks in just as Dickie jokingly states that he wants to "bang" her.
  • When a rude guy wants a photo of Dickie, he takes the guy's camera, sticks it down his pants and takes a few shots.
  • After George says that Dickie will be his happiness, Dickie says that he's not into dudes if that's what George is leading up to. He then adds that he once did that, but doesn't anymore.
  • After Grace tells Dickie that he has to take off the gloves he always wears, he playfully equates it to him asking her to take off her top.
  • A young teen (if that) does a highly sexualized pep squad tryout routine (with suggestive moves and the camera focusing on her clothed butt, etc.) to a sexualized song.
  • Dickie comments on rocker Tommy Lee having a "sex room" in his mansion.
  • Cyndi shows some cleavage and makes what could be an innuendo-based comment about needing to "see my Dickie."
  • George stares at Cyndi's clothed butt as she bends over (and he makes kissing motions with his mouth).
  • Cyndi, who's wearing just a short top of some sort and boxers beneath that, tells Dickie that she's saved up a "sexual experience of a lifetime" for him. Moments later, she asks whether they're going to "do this sex or not" since she wants to get it over with. He says they're not.
  • Some miscellaneous women show cleavage.
  • We briefly see Dickie on the cover of Rolling Stone along with a barely covered nude woman (nothing explicit is seen).
  • Two flight attendants approach Dickie on a flight and one says, "Coffee, tea or me." One then mentions joining the "mile high club" and one then says, "Big houses make me horny" (prompting the other to agree to that).
  • SMOKING
  • We see a photo of Dickie's mom (while pregnant) holding a drink and cigarette. We later see a live version of the same at an older age (but not pregnant).
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • The following is played for laughs rather than emotional realism.
  • We hear that Dickie's mom left him when his fame waned.
  • We hear that George agreed to "adopt" Dickie for a month without first asking Grace. He also has a demeaning attitude toward her.
  • Dickie says he doesn't remember his real dad and that he never had a family.
  • Sally says that her dad is hardly ever around for dinner.
  • George is mean to Grace again and there's some talk (between Grace and Dickie) about her strained marriage.
  • George stares at Cyndi's clothed butt as she bends over (and he makes kissing motions with his mouth), all in front of Grace.
  • We hear that George ran off with another woman (and Grace then has to tell the kids the following Christmas that she didn't have much money for gifts for them).
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Former child stars and what growing up in the media spotlight does to kids.
  • Dickie says that one will never get anywhere in life if they don't bend the rules a bit.
  • Dealing with bullies.
  • Distant parents and/or ones that abandon their children.
  • VIOLENCE
  • Everything listed here is played for laughs.
  • We see Dickie taking on Emmanuelle Lewis in a celebrity boxing match where the small Lewis repeatedly pummels Dickie both with gloves and then bare-fisted. He then kicks him several times (in the gut or crotch), and then jumps down and lands hard on his crotch. He then hits him again before the match is over.
  • Dickie's car rolls down a hill (after being jacked up too high), where it crashes and explodes.
  • Dickie doesn't hold an elevator for a harried woman carrying many items and we later see her with a bump on her head from hitting the closed door (which we hear).
  • An out of control garden hose breaks some things.
  • Dickie throws a toy/game that breaks upon impact.
  • Dickie pours cooking oil (instead of water) onto a Slip and Slide and then runs and jumps on it (he slides off it, crashing through a small wooden fence).
  • A bully picks on Sam and repeatedly flicks his head.
  • A water bed breaks and causes damage in Grace's house.
  • As Dickie learns how to ride a bike for the first time, he runs into a parked moving van and we then see a montage of him wrecking, including running into a street sign and flipping over a parked car.
  • Dickie throws a cork that hits Cyndi on the head (to act as if he's just opened the bottle). Moments later, he spills hot candle wax on her.
  • Dickie falls after standing and dancing on some painter's stilts (we hear the sound of him falling and many animal sounds, including a cat screeching, but don't see the impact).
  • We hear that a man beat up Rob Reiner (thinking it was Dickie from an earlier incident).
  • George tells Cyndi to be useful and get him a drink. She then throws a bottle that hits him on the head.



  • Reviewed September 2, 2003 / Posted September 5, 2003

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