Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star

"50 million people used to watch him on TV. Now he washes their cars."

Sep 5 2003 PG-13 1h 38m
Comedy

TV child star of the '70s, Dickie Roberts is now 35 and parking cars. Craving to regain the spotlight, he auditions for a role of a normal guy, but the director quickly sees he is anything but normal. Desperate to win the part, Dickie hires a family to help him replay his childhood and assume the identity of an average, everyday kid.

Plot

Once, he was on top of the world as a popular child actor on TV. Now, he's Hollywood's punchline about everything wrong with people who were famous as children. All Dickie Roberts wants to do is find that one gig that will restore his honor and everyone's love of him, so after learning that Rob Reiner's making an ambitious new movie destined to sweep the Oscars, Dickie's first in line to audition. He walks out having learned he certainly looks the part but can't act it... yet, owing to his very unusual childhood. To research the role, Dickie embarks on a bizarre scheme to live with a suburban family to see how the average American child lives, having them put him up as their "son". But once his gloves are off, Dickie discovers how great it is to be part of a true family, and whether he gets the part or not, his attempt at method acting will certainly change his life forever.

Written by

Fred Wolf, David Spade

Directed by

Sam Weisman

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Happy Madison Productions, Paramount

Languages

English

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
15,935
Average Rating
5.6 out of 10
Metascore
36
Popularity
NA