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Flubber

Name: Flubber
Director: Les Mayfield
Released: 1997
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

1997

Director

Les Mayfield

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Flubber is a conventional family comedy that adheres to traditional storytelling methods and mainstream appeal. The narrative centers on personal scientific achievements and heterosexual resolutions, sticking to established genre formulas. The film adopts a traditionalist approach to filmmaking, avoiding harmful stereotypes but not actively challenging social hierarchies or integrating diverse identities. It reflects the demographic norms of the mid-90s, offering a predictable and homogeneous view of an academic setting.

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Category Breakdown

Does Flubber have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a strictly heterosexual storyline, focusing on the romance and union between the male and female leads. There is no representation of LGBTQ+ individuals or relationships.

How does Flubber portray gender?

Fair

Dr. Sara Fielding, a college president, exhibits strong professional influence, enabling the film to pass the Bechdel test. However, the story remains rooted in traditional 1990s romantic comedy conventions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Flubber?

Limited

The film features a predominantly white cast, depicting a uniform social environment without diverse racial perspectives. There is no representation of non-Anglo-Saxon cultures.

How does Flubber represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story unfolds within a typical Western context, featuring a scientist-versus-corporation conflict. It emphasizes traditional values such as family stability and scientific integrity.

Does Flubber include disability representation?

Minimal

The protagonist's forgetfulness is used as a humorous plot device rather than a nuanced exploration of neurodivergence. It serves as a comedic element without delving into real-life experiences.

Present on Screen

Dr. Sara Fielding, the female lead, demonstrates professional influence and engages in scientific dialogue.
The film avoids using harmful stereotypes within its comedic framework.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, presenting a largely homogenous social environment.
Neurodivergence is portrayed as a humorous plot device rather than a nuanced character study.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ individuals or relationships, adhering strictly to heterosexual storylines.

Official Synopsis

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.

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