(The following donated review by Heath Chamerski was moved by Filmtracks to this comment section in February, 2008)

Flubber: (Danny Elfman) Danny Elfman has never taken the easy way out. Constantly changing and incorporating new styles of scoring into his repertoire, Elfman has always been one of the most original and daring film composers over the last ten years. Flubber is without a doubt, one of his finest scores. Admittedly, it is a lightweight score for an awful film, but the quality of the music that Elfman has produced for this film is outstanding.

The first track, Main Titles, is an amazing way to start off the album and the film, with a driving main theme and wild orchestrations. Most of the tracks don't follow a linear progression, but "Mickey Mouse" to the action, scoring every movement and action like an animated film would. This proves very , as tracks like "Breakfast" and "It's Alive" prove. Less successful are tracks such as "Gamma Ray" where Elfman uses the theremin which served him well in Mars Attacks!, but is less successful here. It works well in the film, but not on disc. The next three tracks, "Take Off", "Mambo In The Sky" and "Flying High" are brilliant, with the first track of mambo music making its way onto the album. Even though "Take Off" and "Mambo In The Sky" last for about a minute and a half combined, there is so much happening and so much to listen to that they feel three times as long. The entire score, except for a couple of the tracks, particularly "Remarkable" and "Weebo's Death" feature this kind of wild orchestration that Elfman is famous for. The best two tracks, however are 12 and 17. "Mambo Del Flubber" is one of Elfman's best tracks ever. An amazing two and a half minute Mambo track that sounds incredible on CD. This is one of the busiest tracks I have ever heard, an amazing collection of sounds and brilliant trumpet playing. This track alone makes the CD worth buying. The "End Credits" track is also amazing, a combination of all the themes from the film and a new theme (which begins the track) are brilliant.

The funny thing about this album is that although it is unmistakably Elfman's music (nobody else in the business can write music like Elfman can), it is not just a repeat of what he has done previously. Elfman has taken his own unmistakable style and produced an original and diverse score. The "Mambo" feel he has given the score was a master stroke and with Flubber, he has produced one of his best works, up there with The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands. I rate this score as an essential buy for any Elfman fan out there. You will not be disappointed. *****