MonsterPerfect Good idea lost in the noise

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

misctidsandbits It's interesting to see that the majority of reviewers deliberately mentioned that this movie has stood the test of time. I think it is an art to create hilarity like this. You have to have an uncomplicated head, which is probably why it is not done today.The Disney Channel used to air their old great family films on a late night, maybe early a.m. venue called "Vault Disney." It's gone. I taped every one I found. Unfortunately, they went on VHS at that time, and they haven't transferred very well to DVD. However, more of these are showing up on DVD online all the time.There was one called something like, "The One and Only Family Band." I think there were more words, but John Davidson and Leslie Warren were in it with Walter Brennan and others. "The Happiest Millionaire" was in the lineup, with an older Greer Garson and Fred MacMurray. It's a musical family piece, which is very funny. These were well done also."North Avenue" is hilarious, fresh and great fun. Lots of good clean energy.

thomandybish One of the last of Disney's live-action features that truly appealled to kids and parents, THE NORTH AVENUE IRREGULARS concerns a newly-arrived minister(Edward Herrman)who suggests that his flock look for ways to increase the church budget. When the ne'er-do-well husband of one of the church ladies bets the church funds on a fixed horserace, the minister sets out to recoup the funds and uncovers an illegal betting racket in his town. At the prompting of the local authorities, the good reverend and a group of church ladies go undercover to catch the crooks. What ensues is equal parts car chase/slapstick/G-rated comedy, as the motley assortment of soccer moms, little old ladies, and well-coiffed housewives race thier station wagons, pickup trucks, and Lincoln Continentals towards the inevitable happy conclusion. One sour note is a gratuitous rock group enlisted to liven up church services. The group, Strawberry Shortcake, looks and sounds about ten years behind the times, like the 1910 Fruitgum Co. after having gotten religion. Oh well, it is an Disney flick . . .

fantasmic1971 Disney just doesn't make fun films of this sort anymore. And the all-star-cast movie days seem to be over. I'm glad we have films like this to watch and remember. Everyone has their moments to shine here, but Cloris Leachman IMHO takes the cake! The scene at the end with the fingernails is a scream. This used to be very hard to find, but now it's out on DVD. If you haven't seen it yet, give it a try. It was made in '79, which adds to it's charm - all those bell bottoms & hip phrases of the time. You'll love the crash-up derby at the end. This is just a great family film.

aimster It's your typical Disney movie. A little slow at first but as the plot picks up so does the comedy - especially at the end. If you're in the mood for a good laugh, I recommend watching "The North Avenue Irregulars".