Darren "Kolchak" McGavin and Don Knotts make a comfortable comedy team in this typically over the top, slapstick-heavy live action feature from Disney. Kim Richards and Brad Savage, no strangers to Disney movies, play Tracy and Jay, and the two of them feel neglected by their jet-setting mother Carolyn (Barbara Feldon). And they definitely don't want to spend time with their grandfather (David Niven), whom they don't really like. So they enter into an arrangement with Duke (McGavin) and Bert (Knotts) after the two adults and two kids share a fateful cab ride. Tracy comes up with the idea that they will stage a "kidnapping", and when rich grandpa supposedly coughs up the dough, the four characters will split the proceeds. Grandpa, however, has other ideas.
One would think that screenwriter Dale Launer, who later wrote "Ruthless People", had seen this one and was inspired by it. This is a reasonably engaging family comedy that unfortunately wastes too much time and goes on too long (the story didn't really need that detour where Bert must rescue Jay and his pet skunk Duster). Still, it's easy enough to like, with the whole cast delivering very enthusiastic performances. Since Duke and Bert are basically good guys who would like to go straight, the movie does still need a genuine villain, and gets it in the form of threatening mobster Big Joe (Vic "Mel" Tayback) and his flunky Freddie (character actor Louis Guss).
Like so many Disney live action comedies from this era, the climactic action revolves around a farcical chase sequence. It does feature some priceless gags, but goes on too long, just like the overall movie. It's formulaic stuff, with the kind of feel-good ending guaranteed to please its intended audience, and has some of the characters experience epiphanies so they can become better people by the conclusion.
Keep an eye out for a rich variety of familiar faces in supporting roles and bits: Herschel Bernardi, Charles Martin Smith (as apparently the worst driver on the police force), John Williams, James Hong, Bob Hastings, and Iris Adrian.
Inspired by the O. Henry yarn "Ransom of Red Chief".
Seven out of 10.
One would think that screenwriter Dale Launer, who later wrote "Ruthless People", had seen this one and was inspired by it. This is a reasonably engaging family comedy that unfortunately wastes too much time and goes on too long (the story didn't really need that detour where Bert must rescue Jay and his pet skunk Duster). Still, it's easy enough to like, with the whole cast delivering very enthusiastic performances. Since Duke and Bert are basically good guys who would like to go straight, the movie does still need a genuine villain, and gets it in the form of threatening mobster Big Joe (Vic "Mel" Tayback) and his flunky Freddie (character actor Louis Guss).
Like so many Disney live action comedies from this era, the climactic action revolves around a farcical chase sequence. It does feature some priceless gags, but goes on too long, just like the overall movie. It's formulaic stuff, with the kind of feel-good ending guaranteed to please its intended audience, and has some of the characters experience epiphanies so they can become better people by the conclusion.
Keep an eye out for a rich variety of familiar faces in supporting roles and bits: Herschel Bernardi, Charles Martin Smith (as apparently the worst driver on the police force), John Williams, James Hong, Bob Hastings, and Iris Adrian.
Inspired by the O. Henry yarn "Ransom of Red Chief".
Seven out of 10.