Fat Albert

This live-action adaptation of Bill Cosby's 1970s cartoon is a lot like the comedian's best work: amusing, appropriate for kids, and far more spiritually nourishing and less insulting than typical Hollywood fare. The plot sounds unfortunate: Albert (Thompson) and the gang magically travel from their cartoon world to the flesh-and-bone modern age to rescue a plain jane (Pratt) from teenage blues. But the Cosby touch (he's co-writer and co–executive producer) is in full effect, schmaltz notwithstanding, as Albert and the gang run through their series of pleasantly diverting escapades.