Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
A disgraced former child star rents a suburban family to relearn ordinary childhood and revive his Hollywood career.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics found the premise and celebrity cameos promising, but considered the David Spade humor uneven and the sentimental second half contrived.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dickie is publicly mocked as a former child star while chasing a career-restoring audition.
Dickie arranges to live as the son of a suburban family so he can study an ordinary childhood.
The film shifts from broad celebrity jokes toward an intentionally emotional family transformation that critics found contrived.
Dickie's child-actor past leaves him without ordinary childhood experiences, motivating his immersion in family life.
Films like Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, and why
The Comebacks
Both are broad hollywood comedies built around an immature performer pursuing a career comeback through outrageous schemes.
Bowfinger
Both use celebrity culture, self-deprecating humor, and an offbeat protagonist seeking renewed professional relevance.
School of Rock
Both combine fish-out-of-water comedy with a reluctant adult learning ordinary family and social values.
Movie Details
- Director
- Sam Weisman
- Release Date
- 2003-09-04
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 5.1 / 10 (213)
Cast
- David Spade
- Mary McCormack
- Jon Lovitz
- Craig Bierko
- Alyssa Milano
- Rob Reiner
- Scott Terra
- Jenna Boyd
- John Farley
- Michael Buffer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star about?
- A disgraced former child star rents a suburban family to relearn ordinary childhood and revive his Hollywood career.
- What is Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.
- What did critics think of Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star?
- Critics found the premise and celebrity cameos promising, but considered the David Spade humor uneven and the sentimental second half contrived.
- Which films are like Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star?
- Films with a similar feel include The Comebacks, Bowfinger, and School of Rock.
- How long is Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star?
- Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star?
- In United States, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star streams on fuboTV.
