The primary dispenser of these life lessons is an overweight adolescent named Albert, who has a sunny, vacant smile and an almost surreal lack of bile toward life. When you hear Albert begin a sentence with, "Hey, hey, hey," prepare yourself for another homily — and a rhyming one to boot — about dealing with problems.

Albert and his cartoon cohorts jump out of the television to come to the aid of troubled Philadelphia adolescent Doris, who has felt insecure and worthless since the death of her grandfather.

In this scenario, there are no adult guardians on the scene. Doris' parents are gone for two days so she fends with her foster sister, Lauri, as they come to terms with cartoon characters walking around like, well sort of like, human beings.

Director Joel Zwick's team of set and scenic designers have given the movie a funhouse look, so that downtown Philadelphia (except for process shots) looks like an amusement park, rather than a city. A city dump on the edge of town gives the movie a distinct "East Side Gang" quality. Zwick, by the way, has some interesting credits: everything from "Happy Days" on television, to the mega-indie hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

There are mostly ultra low-key performances in the film, including Kenan Thompson as Albert. The one happy exception is Kyla Pratt ("One on One," "The Proud Family") as Doris. She has the gumption and oomph of a flesh and blood human being, and she is properly skeptical of Albert's Pollyannish impulses.

Albert has his best moments, uncharacteristically, at a dance in which he nicely but forcefully confronts the school Romeo-bully, a little guy who behaves as if he were at least as big as Albert.

Those parents and guardians who must find something for their children to watch this holiday weekend at the movies could do worse than "Fat Albert" — there are any number of brutal and unkind movies out there also targeted at young audiences. But keep in mind that movies rarely soar when they spend their time wagging an educational finger at viewers.