Ratings and profits for dad to analyze and monkeys for the kids to giggle at. Then there's a romance, Kurt Russell and Heather North, for the ladies 12 on up. The story focuses on a TV network mail room clerk (Russell) whose pet chimp can pick out somehow what's going to be a top rated show. Being pre-cable, it's still a tough business, but with buffoonish bosses like Harry Morgan and Joe Flynn in charge (who else would they cast?, This after all is Disney even if it's not Dexter Reilly at Medville College...), and a goofy chauffer (Wally Cox), it's a case of the chimp vs. The chumps, and a moderately funny film.
I have to say that most of the Kurt Russell comedies at Disney have not held up well, feeling gimmicky and painted by numbers. An early one for Russell, it's the prototype for what's to come, and better than the others because it seems far more original and less absurd. As usual, Disney went out of their way to overload the film with familiar faces from both the big and small screens, as well as plenty of slapstick. It's nostalgic for younger boomer audiences to see these films because they were the type of movies our parents dropped us off at while they did the grocery shopping, and later on rerun ad nauseum on Disney's TV show. Moments that made me genuinely laugh are more frequent than others in the series. However, this gets an award for the most deserving song not to be nominated for an Oscar.
I have to say that most of the Kurt Russell comedies at Disney have not held up well, feeling gimmicky and painted by numbers. An early one for Russell, it's the prototype for what's to come, and better than the others because it seems far more original and less absurd. As usual, Disney went out of their way to overload the film with familiar faces from both the big and small screens, as well as plenty of slapstick. It's nostalgic for younger boomer audiences to see these films because they were the type of movies our parents dropped us off at while they did the grocery shopping, and later on rerun ad nauseum on Disney's TV show. Moments that made me genuinely laugh are more frequent than others in the series. However, this gets an award for the most deserving song not to be nominated for an Oscar.