Spade gets adopted

David Spade’s new movie, “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” is an amusing look at life… David Spade’s new movie, “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” is an amusing look at life after childhood stardom.

Dickie Roberts (Spade) had everything when he was six: a hit show, an adoring public and a doting mother. Then the show was canceled. Thirty years later Dickie is a valet who hangs out with other washed-up child stars.

Desperate to recapture the fame of his childhood, Dickie prepares to audition for the role of a lifetime in Rob Reiner’s (playing himself) new film. Dickie readies himself by hiring a family to adopt him, so he can recreate his childhood and, hopefully, learn how to act as a normal adult.

“Dickie Roberts” is full of silly humor, with lots of slapstick gags and a few crude lines, but the jokes are not overdone. Spade tosses his typical, bitingly sarcastic insults at people, which generates a few laughs. The other notable names in the movie, such as Jon Lovitz and Alyssa Milano, don’t contribute very much to the humor; they have small roles and they’re not that funny when they do appear.

What makes this movie go from a mediocre comedy to something actually worth seeing is the chemistry between David Spade and the two young actors that play the children of the family he’s hired. Their obvious enjoyment of the funny mistakes that their “adopted brother” Dickie makes while trying to be a kid – from sliding on a waterless slip-n-slide to flipping over parked cars while learning how to ride a bike – helps the audience enjoy these mishaps as well. And it doesn’t hurt that Spade is at his funniest during these family interactions.

The story is not entirely realistic, but it’s not supposed to be. Knowing this makes the movie fun to watch. Since the relationships between the characters are what drive the plot, some scenes fall short because what happens next is too obvious or slightly unbelievable, based on what we know about those characters. Despite these minor pitfalls, there’s always a scene afterward that moves the film forward again so the humor doesn’t completely lose its momentum.

There are more cameos in “Dickie Roberts” than in an “Austin Powers” movie, only the cameos aren’t done by A-list celebrities, but rather by former child stars from the ’50s through the ’90s. This is probably more impressive to those who actually know who these “stars” are. Otherwise, stick around during the credits to shed some light on the mystery. But, even while unsure of who these people are, the cameos add to the movie by enhancing the parody of life after childhood fame. And seeing Screech (Dustin Diamond) from “Saved by the Bell” with a beard is always a plus.

Overall, “Dickie Roberts” is a funny, cute movie with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and only a few dull spots. David Spade brings his usual style of humor with a family-film twist that, for the most part, works. The message at the end is really sweet, if obvious. Don’t forget to stay for some last laughs during the credits. This movie is definitely not a bad way to spend an afternoon.