Customer Reviews

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Kurt Russell plays a student of Medfield College named Dexter. When his class talks the local model citizen/bookie into donating a computer to the college, weird things start to happen. When the computer blows a circuit Dexter volunteers to get the new part. When he returns it is pouring down rain and he doesn't realize the computer got wet too. When he replaces the circuit board and touchs two wires he gets zapped with the computers memory. Now he seems to be the smartest man in the world. When everyone wants him and the bookie will stop at nothing to shut him up, things get funny.

I'm giving the movie five stars for entertainment and my wife gives it five stars for Kurt being so cute then. My wife and I love this movie. The movie is wonderful early Disney comedy at its best. Kurt Russell and the rest of the cast probably had a blast making this movie. Fans of the Disney movies "The Strongest Man in the World" and "Now You See Him, Now You Don't" will want this one too. Great comedy for the whole family. For the price the transfer is decent but the movie would be better in a Platinum Edition with Widescreen, commentary, making of, and other extras.

Update - I would like to rate this film higher, I rated it low for the DVD but the website would not let me fix the rating. The movie itself is 4 stars. DVD review 1 star - At the time I review this, the DVD release by Disney left a lot to be desired. So I recommended you save your VHS copy if you were thinking of upgrading until they release a better copy later. Where are the extras, theatrical trailers, behind the scenes, anything?

FILM Review 4 stars - This is the first in a series of 3 movies about a great group of students at the fictional Medfield College, led by the likable Dexter Riley (Kurt Russell). The sequels are "Now You See him, Now You Don't" and my favorite, "The Strongest Man in the World". They were always at odds with the bumbling Dean Higgins (Joe Flynn), who was determined that the kids are up to no good. In this story, the school is in financial trouble, running out of cash. The students and Professor Quigley, (William Schallert), talk a philanthropist businessman (Cesar Romero) into donating a computer to their school, they have no idea he is a criminal boss looking for a place to get rid of it. Then an accident in the lab joins a new computers memory bank into the human mind of student Dexter, making him super intelligent. Soon he is a star, and Dexter's new celebrity status takes him all over the world, even to the United Nations. He is fawned over everywhere he goes, lavished with praise and attention. Of course this makes him start to ignore his friends, but he finally figures out that people are just using him and comes back home to help the school by winning money on a college academic quiz show series where he can win the money to save the school. While they win nearly every game, the bumbling Dean of Medfield really wants to beat his old rival, the Dean of another college. Dexter rolls off every answer with no effort, until a certain question triggers a computer-like response, with Dexter rolling off a series of numbers in an automaton-like trance. Turns out these numbers are from a criminal betting ring that had used the computer at one time. The criminal boss figures out he is at risk and makes Dexter disappear, and his old friend have to try to rescue him. This is a fun family film, with a good storyline full of laughs but not in the slapstick pratfalls that many Walt Disney movies had at the time. It has a lot of heart, with nice pacing and is never boring. Great animated opening title sequence with the catchy title song.

TRIVIA & BEHIND THE SCENES: Directed by Robert Butler. This movie was originally planned for television and so it was filmed in full-screen, but the end product turned out better than they hoped and the studio released it in theatres. It was hugely popular with young people. This movie series helped to make Kurt Russell a big name in Hollywood, this was his 4th Disney theatrical film in addition to his Disney TV work. Kids today would be amazed to see that the computer in the movie practically fills a whole room, but probably lacked the computing power and memory of today's laptops. The original movie poster promoting the film had the tag line, "Programmed for Laughs". Kurt Russell performed for a 45 record of the title song in 1969. By the way, "Medfield College" was also the name of the college in a previous Disney film, "The Absent-Minded professor", it's sequel "Son of Flubber", and the modern Robin Williams version "Flubber". Originally released to theaters in December 31, 1969, it runs 91 minutes long. It aired in two parts on the "Wonderful World of Disney", on September 17, and 24, 1972, and re-aired in 1980. It was broadcast as a 2 hour movie in 1977. First released on video in 1985.

This film was FILMED in fullscreen. Just thought I'd let everyone know. It's aspect ratio is 1.33:1, meaning it's a "full frame" film. In order for it to be widescreen, the top and bottom portions of the full frame image would have to be covered with black bars, in order to create a widescreen image. This process is called "Soft Matte". Anyway, the DVD for this film does present the whole image for this movie.

Fresh off his "Toby Tyler" days, in the early 70s, Kurt Russell was just about to blossom into what would eventually become his trademark/leading man/hunk persona in this fluffy little outing. Kurt, in a very Peter-Parker-esque maneuver, gets the entire contents of a mega-computer's memory (and cognitive abilities) instantly downloaded into his teenaged human brain during a rainstorm. Problem is, the computer in question belongs to a vicious mobster played by Cesar Romero, and it also contains the mob's info on their illegal ongoing activities. Best way to watch this one is to treat it as if it were dead/Quentin Tarrantino serious. For all it's pablum Disney humor, the core story has actually been imitated many times since, particularly in films like "The Lawnmower Man."

I grew up with these classics from Disney. Great family entertainment at it's best! The brilliance of Disney's genius really shines in "The Computer Wore Tennis shoes"! Teenagers and young adults may find the special effects outdated, but if they can get beyond that, they will still find the story entertaining and fun to watch.

I can't believe it took Disney so long to release this... It is an all time classic film from Disney and I think it's held up very well. Joe Flynn, Russell (pre-Goldie), and the tall blond conservationist guy from St. Elsewhere (i think) all join in on this madcap late 60's early 70's romp. Big computers, apple jack, and college hi-jinks. I was only 7 when it came out and probably saw it first a few years after its release and I still love it. It really is like a time capsule back to that time (Maybe more of a Disney version of the times than a real portrait but nevertheless it does make you wish we could go back to simpler times). PS: A good movie for the whole family.

I agree with many others whose reviews echo my own ... DISNEY, get a clue WIDESCREEN FORMAT PLEASE!... Lack of Widescreen is the sole reason I haven't purchased this classic Kurt Russell film. Great childhood memory, a film I'd love to share with my kids who like the grown-up Kurt & would love to see him in his 'Disney day's. Hasn't anyone @ Disney been keeping up with technology? Haven't they heard of HDTV? Have they purchased a DVD lately? If it's not widescreen, it's not worth the investment. Try again Disney,I'm waiting with my $ in hand!

Kurt Russell is awesome as a Medfield College student who accidently gets shocked by a computer and becomes computer-like himself. This movie is hilarious and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Russell is supported by wonderful cast in Joe Flynn (Now You See Him, Now You Don't) and Ceaser Romero (the Joker from the original Batman). Also highly reccomended; The Barefoot Exective and Now You See Him, Now you Don't.

This is a very fun, silly, wholesome movie, with a very likable cast, who seemed to be having a ball.
I have wonderful memories of watching this on TV with my parents back in the early 70's. We thought it was hilarious then, and it is still enjoyable almost 35 years later!
HOWEVER, I have not yet bought this or any other classic Disney movie on DVD, nor will I until the Disney studio gets it right and releases them in widescreen format, and with some good extras.
Unfortunately, Disney tends to ignore the true audience for these (pre-1980) classics, and treats us as if we were all the same age as the target audience for their current movies and shows; e.g; Deleting sequences deemed 'politically incorrect' or 'offensive', etc...
If there are any Disney execs reading this, trust me, there are plenty of older Disney fans, well over 18 years old, who simply want to enjoy the classic movies and TV shows we grew up with, unencumbered by censorship or ads for the latest kiddie show.
C'mon Disney, get with the program!

This is a great movie for the times!! Dexter Riley and the gang are wonderful. Very Wholesome and great for the whole family. The music is crazy, but what can you expect for the late 60's!!. I recommend this movie!!