Year: 1997
Runtime: 93 min
Language: English
Director: Les Mayfield
A quirky inventor, Professor Philip Brainard, accidentally creates "flubber," a gelatinous substance with extraordinary properties while searching for a new energy source. The unpredictable flubber bounces into his life, creating comical mayhem and complicating his attempts to rekindle a romance with his former fiancée, Sara. As he tries to control his discovery and win her back, the mischievous flubber leads to a series of hilarious events and teaches everyone valuable lessons about love, friendship, and innovation.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Flubber (1997), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Professor Philip Brainard, portrayed by Robin Williams, is an absent-minded scientist dedicated to creating a revolutionary energy source that could save Medfield College. Working alongside his robot assistant Weebo, voiced by Jodi Benson, he strives to impress his love interest, the college dean Dr. Sara Jean Reynolds, played by Marcia Gay Harden, who has already been let down by Philip’s repeated wedding day blunders. Despite his best intentions, he bungles their nuptials three times, leading to the accidental creation of Flubber, a bouncy substance that defies gravity and enables objects to soar through the air.
As fate would have it, after missing his third opportunity to marry Sara, he attempts to win her back with a Flubber demonstration. However, this goes awry when he tumbles out of a window, only stirring Sara’s frustration and causing her to begin a relationship with Wilson Croft, a rival professor played by Christopher McDonald. In a bid to redeem himself, Philip invents a flying car and devises a plan to use Flubber to enhance the Medfield basketball team’s performance, which succeeds in securing a championship victory. Yet, his efforts do not rekindle the love of Sara.
In a heartfelt moment, Philip confides in Weebo about his feelings: she records him professing his love and later presents this revelation to Sara. This leads to an unexpected reunion where she kisses him, reigniting their connection. Meanwhile, the plot thickens as corrupt businessman Chester Hoenicker, played by Raymond J. Barry, seeks to exploit both Philip and his groundbreaking invention after hearing about Flubber from his inept associates Smith and Wesson, portrayed by Clancy Brown and Ted Levine.
As Smith and Wesson, in their greed, steal the Flubber and cause Weebo significant damage, Philip and Sara team up to recover it in an epic confrontation. Eventually, Flubber is cleverly utilized in a comical showdown to thwart Wilson’s minions. The hilarious climax occurs when Wilson accidentally ingests Flubber, resulting in a chaotic yet amusing sequence where he uncontrollably dances and laughs due to the substance’s effects on his system. The situation culminates in Wilson’s over-the-top effort to expel Flubber, leading to a raucous exit that leaves everyone speechless and amused.
In the end, as they undergo a unique virtual wedding, Philip accidentally sets off one of his experiments, causing an explosion of hilarity. Following their unconventional vows, the newlywed couple takes to the skies in the flying car, joined by Flubber and Weebo’s newly created offspring, Weebette, symbolizing their love and zany adventures ahead.
Last Updated: November 02, 2024 at 12:58
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where brilliant, eccentric inventors create chaos with their extraordinary discoveries.If you enjoyed the comedic chaos of Flubber's bouncy green discovery, you'll love these movies. This collection features similar stories of eccentric inventors, unpredictable scientific breakthroughs, and the whimsical mayhem that ensues. Find more family comedies where brilliant minds create hilarious problems.
The narrative pattern follows an eccentric inventor on the verge of a breakthrough, often with a personal deadline or goal. Their creation, while brilliant, is unstable or mischievous, leading to a series of escalating, comedic events that threaten to derail their plans before ultimately helping them achieve success and often personal growth.
Movies in this thread share a core focus on the joyous chaos of innovation. They blend scientific curiosity with physical comedy, feature lovably quirky protagonists, and maintain a lighthearted, optimistic tone where problems are solved with creativity and humor rather than darkness or tension.
Journeys of brilliant but flawed minds fixing their mistakes and winning back what they lost.Fans of Professor Brainard's journey in Flubber will appreciate these movies about brilliant yet distracted minds. This list finds similar stories where genius inventors or academics fix their mistakes, save the day, and mend personal relationships through their unique talents. Discover more films about quirky genius redemption.
The narrative follows a highly intelligent protagonist who is neglectful or distracted, leading to a personal or professional failure (like missing a wedding). Their greatest creation or intellectual strength becomes the key to solving the resulting crisis, allowing them to achieve redemption, earn forgiveness, and often win back a lost love or respect.
These movies are grouped by a shared character archetype and emotional arc. They balance intellectual achievement with human foibles, focusing on themes of second chances, the importance of relationships over work, and the satisfying moment when a genius's unique mind finally solves a personal problem.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Flubber in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Flubber is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Flubber with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Flubber. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Flubber that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Flubber: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Flubber that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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