After all the times he's stolen films from other actors with his over-the-top antics, it only seems fitting that Robin Williams should have to play second-banana to some comical, computer-generated goo, as he does in "Flubber."

This uneven "family" comedy contains an even bigger surprise as well — namely that Williams is somewhat subdued and that he also has to take a back seat to WEEBO, a robotic character (voiced by Jodi Benson of "The Little Mermaid") who is actually the best thing about the film.

One thing that's not surprising is the heavy content of slapstick violence, a signature of latter-period films from John "Home Alone" Hughes, who co-scripted and co-produced. For a change, though, most of the violent action actually occurs before the movie's ending.

That's not to say that this remake of the 1961 Disney comedy (which starred Fred MacMurray) is awful. The special effects are great, and there are few chuckles to be had — though kids will probably have more fun with it than adults.

But the film should serve notice to filmmakers who try to remake the classics: Don't do it unless you've got a good script.

Williams takes over the MacMurray role as Professor Phillip Brainard, a scientific genius with a memory problem. In his zeal to find a new form of energy and possibly save struggling Medfield College, he's accidentally skipped two wedding dates to longtime sweetheart Sara Jean Reynolds (Marcia Gay Harden), president of the liberal arts college.

On the afternoon of a third wedding ceremony, Brainard finally succeeds in creating "flubber," a new form of rubber that actually defies gravity and appears to have a life of its own. Those experiments cause him to once again miss his nuptials. (It also helps that his jealous assistant WEEBO doesn't notify him.)

Brainard tries to apologize to Sara the next day but finds that she has already taken up with his rival, Wilson Croft (Christopher McDonald), and that she has no interest in his invention.

When he uses it to try to win her back, he also attracts the attention of shady businessman Chester Hoenicker (Raymond Barry), who sends his henchmen (Clancy Brown and Ted Levine) to "acquire" the new discovery.

If you guessed that this is where the trademark Hughes "Home Alone" routines come in, you'd be right. But few would figure how mean-spirited some of the "revenge" devices are (having the two goons get hit by bouncing golf balls and bowling balls is just plain painful to watch).

Admittedly, Les Mayfield's direction is stylish, Danny Elfman's score is great and some of the sight gags involving WEEBO are very funny. But Mayfield doesn't really sustain the lighthearted tone the film tries for and instead creates some nagging questions (like why the filmmakers decided to change flubber into a new life form).

And as noted earlier, Williams is too restrained and is actually upstaged by the special effects-generated characters.

"Flubber" is rated PG for slapstick violence, some inappropriately vulgar gags and references, and a couple of mild profanities.