The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes | |
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Genre | |
Based on | The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes by Joseph L. McEveety |
Written by |
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Directed by | Peyton Reed |
Starring | Kirk Cameron |
Music by | Philip Giffin |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Joseph B. Wallenstein |
Cinematography | Russ Alsobrook |
Editor | Jeff Gourson |
Running time | 87 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | February 18, 1995 |
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is a 1995 American made-for-television science fiction comedy film directed by Peyton Reed (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Joseph L. McEveety and Ryan Rowe. The film is a remake of the 1969 film of the same name. It premiered on ABC as an ABC Family Movie on February 18, 1995. It is the second in a series of four remakes of Disney live-action films produced for broadcast on the network during the 1994–95 television season, the other three being The Shaggy Dog , Escape to Witch Mountain , and Freaky Friday . [1]
The film stars Kirk Cameron in the lead role of Dexter Riley, a boy who becomes an instant genius, with encyclopedic knowledge. The film also co-stars Larry Miller and Dean Jones plays the role of an evil dean from a competing school. [2]
Dexter, a once lazy and underachieving student at Medfield College, becomes an instant genius when a freak computer lab accident transfers an entire online encyclopedia to his brain. He uses his newfound intellect to ace a physics midterm in under ten minutes. The dean of Medfield College wishes to capitalize on Dexter’s superb intelligence by placing him on the school's quiz bowl team and allowing him to recruit his friends as teammates. [3]
Medfield College wins several quiz bowls matches with Dexter exclusively answering every question. He receives national recognition and generates positive publicity for Medfield College. Dexter's success also has a negative impact. His friends believe he is becoming too conceited and contemplate leaving the quiz bowl team. Norwood Gill, a child prodigy and computer hacker from a rival school that won the Quiz Bowl three times and develops an obsession with Dexter, and probes into his background. Government agents also investigate Dexter as a potential computer hacker known as "Viper". [3]
Norwood ultimately uncovers the origin of Dexter's intellect. He exposes the information during a quiz bowl broadcast, but the revelation is largely dismissed by the audience. As Norwood prepares to compete against Dexter in the quiz bowl championship, he infects him with a computer virus that negates his encyclopedic knowledge. The virus takes full effect midway through the championship, forcing Dexter to rely on his teammates for support. Medfield College ultimately wins the championship and celebrates. Norwood is apprehended by government agents for committing several cybercrimes when he exposes himself as the viper. [3]
Variety gave the film a moderately positive review, calling it an "utterly silly yarn" that "lacks the zaniness of the original", and complimented Larry Miller's performance. [3] People gave it a B+ rating and called it a "fun, facile remake" with a good cast. [4]
Dean Carroll Jones was an American actor. He was best known as The Walt Disney Company's main leading man in the 1970s with his roles as Agent Zeke Kelso in That Darn Cat! (1965), Jim Douglas in the Herbie franchise (1969–1997), and with other film companies such as Dr. Herman Varnick in Beethoven (1992). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance as Albert Dooley in The Million Dollar Duck (1971). In 1995, he was inducted as a Disney Legend for his film work.
“The Computer Wore Menace Shoes" is the sixth episode of the twelfth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 3, 2000. In the episode, Homer buys a computer and creates his own website to spread gossip and fake news. However, when Homer starts writing conspiracy theories about flu shots, he is sent to an island where people who know too much are imprisoned.
Scott Allan Norwood is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for seven seasons with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Birmingham Stallions in the United States Football League (USFL) for two seasons. As Buffalo's placekicker from 1985 to 1991, Norwood led the league in scoring for the 1988 season and played in their first two Super Bowl appearances. Despite his accomplishments, he is best known for missing a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of Super Bowl XXV.
The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is based on the 1943 short story "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor. The title character was based in part on Hubert Alyea, a professor emeritus of chemistry at Princeton University, who was known as "Dr. Boom" for his explosive demonstrations. The film stars Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard, alongside Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames, Elliott Reid, and Edward Andrews. The plot follows Brainard as he invents a substance that defies gravity, which he later exploits through various means.
Journey into Imagination with Figment is the third and latest incarnation of a dark ride attraction located within the Imagination! pavilion at World Celebration at Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Originally opened on March 3, 1983, its original and current version feature the small purple dragon named Figment as well as the song "One Little Spark", composed by the Sherman Brothers.
The Shaggy D.A. is a 1976 American comedy film and a sequel to The Shaggy Dog (1959) produced by Walt Disney Productions. It was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Don Tait. As with the first film in the series, it takes some inspiration from the Felix Salten novel, The Hound of Florence.
Joseph Anthony Flynn III was an American actor. He was known for playing Captain Wallace Binghamton in the 1960s ABC television situation comedy McHale's Navy. Flynn was also a frequent guest star on 1960s TV shows, such as Batman, and appeared in several Walt Disney film comedies.
Richard Norris Williams II, generally known as R. Norris Williams, was an American tennis player and passenger aboard RMS Titanic. He survived the sinking of the Titanic. He won the U.S. National Tennis Championships in men's singles in 1914 and 1916. He was ranked the U.S. No. 1 player for 1916 by the USLTA, and world No. 2 for 1914.
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is a 1969 American science fiction comedy film starring Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero, Joe Flynn and William Schallert. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Company.
Jonathan Bion Provost is an American actor, best known for his role as young Timmy Martin in the CBS series Lassie.
Freaky Friday is a 1995 American fantasy comedy television film directed by Melanie Mayron and written by Stu Krieger. It is based on Mary Rodgers's 1972 novel of the same name and her screenplay for its 1976 film adaptation, and is the fourth installment overall in the Freaky Friday franchise. It stars Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffmann as a mother and daughter who magically switch bodies for a day. Produced by Walt Disney Television, the film premiered on ABC on May 6, 1995 as an episode of The Wonderful World of Disney. It was the last in a series of four remakes of live-action Disney films produced for broadcast on ABC during the 1994–95 television season, the other three being The Shaggy Dog, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, and Escape to Witch Mountain.
Son of Flubber is a 1963 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is the sequel to The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and the first sequel to a Disney film. Fred MacMurray reprises his role from the previous film as Ned Brainard, a scientist who has perfected a high-bouncing substance, Flubber, that can levitate an automobile and cause athletes to bounce into the sky. In addition to MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Ed Wynn, Elliott Reid, and Tommy Kirk also co-star, reprising their roles from the previous film.
Now You See Him, Now You Don't is a 1972 American science fiction comedy film starring Kurt Russell as a chemistry student who accidentally discovers the secret to invisibility. It is the second film in Dexter Riley series.
The Strongest Man in the World is a 1975 American science fiction comedy film directed by Vincent McEveety, produced by Walt Disney Productions, and starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn and Eve Arden. It was the third and final film in Dexter Riley series.
Mark Lee Dexter is an English actor who trained at RADA.
The Shaggy Dog is a 1994 American made-for-television fantasy-comedy film and a remake of the 1959 film of the same name produced by Walt Disney Television that premiered on November 12, 1994 as an ABC Family Movie. It is the first in a series of four remakes of Disney live-action films produced for broadcast on ABC during the 1994–95 television season, the other three being The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Escape to Witch Mountain, and Freaky Friday.
Michael McGreevey is an American actor and screenwriter. He starred in several Walt Disney films as a young actor and later became a writer for the Fame TV series. He is the son of Emmy Award-winning television and film screenwriter John McGreevey.
The Flubber franchise consists of American science-fiction-comedy films, with three theatrical releases, and two made-for-television films. The overall story is based on the short story, A Situation of Gravity, written by Samuel W. Taylor in 1943. The plot of the films center around an absent-minded college professor, who works tirelessly to find the next great invention. The Professor wants to make scientific history, while working to save the school at which he works, the Medfield College.
The Shaggy Dog franchise consists of American science fiction-fantasy-comedy films, with three theatrical releases, and two made-for-television films. The overall story is based on the 1923 novel titled The Hound of Florence by Felix Salten. The overarching story of each installment, follows Wilbur "Wilby" Daniels who is cursed and transforms into a large Old English Sheepdog after attaining an ancient Borgian ring and reciting its inscription.
The Dexter Riley film series consists of American science fiction-comedy films, centered around a college student played by Kurt Russell. The films, produced by The Walt Disney Company and taking place at the fictional Medfield College, follow the science class led by Professor Quigley, and their experiments, projects, and adventures. The college, under the direction of Dean Eugene Higgins becomes involved in the nefarious plans of millionaire-turned-criminal, A. J. Arno.