Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Son of Flubber

film

Son of Flubber

1963

Beleaguered professor Ned Brainard has already run into a pile of misfortunes with his discovery of the super-elastic substance "Flubber." Now he hopes to have better luck with a gravity-busting derivative he's dubbed "Flubbergas." Ned's experiments, constantly hampered by government obstruction, earn the consternation of his wife, Betsy. But a game-winning modification to a football uniform may help Ned make the case for his fantastic new invention.

Ages 6+Source checked

Why this age? G-rated family comedy with slapstick accidents, broken glass, crashes, mild peril, marital tension, and courtroom stress; the plot is generally playful rather than frightening or graphic. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age6+

Strongest cautions

  • Romance2/5
  • Violence2/5
  • Frightening scenes1/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Courage & resilience2/5
  • Good role models2/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

No significant product placement; typical of older studio-produced family films.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Uses G-rated, polite language consistent with family films of the era.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Married-couple tension and an old girlfriend's efforts to rekindle attention provide a subplot, without becoming intense or sexual.

Frightening scenes1/5
Why this rating?

Very light moments of mild tension, such as an internal rainstorm in a car, but nothing intended to scare.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Comic accidents include crashes, property damage, and a car being flooded; violence is slapstick and not presented as seriously injurious.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

The professor shows courage in continuing his research despite setbacks and legal threats.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Inventive problem-solving and imaginative science-fiction concepts—Flubber, Flubbergas, anti-gravity, and weather manipulation—drive the entire story.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It introduces playful ideas about invention, gravity, weather, agriculture, taxation, law, and scientific consequences, though entertainment is the main purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Characters generally interact with standard courtesy, with a focus on family cooperation.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

Encourages the value of scientific persistence and intellectual curiosity.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist is a dedicated scientist, though he is occasionally absent-minded and prone to mistakes.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did relationships or romance affect the characters’ choices?
  3. Which choice in Son of Flubber would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Son of Flubber, and what caused that change?
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