Gus (1976)

Ah, the Bicentennial. That crazy cool star patch that was painted on NASA buildings, and was put on this that and other thing, and I even had one for my cub scout uniform. But one of the thing I'll remember from that year is seeing Disney's "Gus", the goal kicking mule. Truth be told I don't remember too much of the film when I first saw it, save for one line appears to be missing, but that really doesn't matter. The movie is okay entertainment, though I have to say that the store sequence dragged on perhaps a minute or two too long. Familiar actors from both TV and film make their appearance in this film, and believe it nor there's an awful lot of SFX work, likely due to budget limitations. One of the real pleasures of this movie however is seeing talented regular looking people in the lead and supporting roles. There are no real beautiful or pretty actors or actresses in this thing. Name talent appears in this thing. Names like Asner, Knotts, Conway, Van Patten, Craine and others who made their appearances and not just TV but also stage. The story is pretty basic, and touches on corruption in professional sports, as well as the continuing disparity between real football and the American version (which has almost nothing to do with feet touching the ball). The antics the heavies go to torpedoing the good guys are pretty extreme, and again they do seem to drag on a bit, in particular near the end of the second act.Otherwise it's decent family entertainment. Again, it's the kind of film no one makes anymore but should. Good clean fun, somewhat corny and drawn out in parts, but not overuse of digital inserts, no aggrandizement of scenes because you have access to digital SFX and CGI, just some rear projection, and otherwise practical effects and old fashioned stunts. Give it a shot. If you're a younger reader, then you'll get a chance to see what us old timers used to watch in terms of clean entertainment in the 1970s.Check it out.

i went and saw this flick at the movies when it first came out in 1976. i went alone and was probably too old to be that interested in seeing children's comedies from Disney. i was a nerd. at least i was somewhat aware of it at the time. i remember asking my brother to drop me off at a evening showing so i didn't have to sit in a theater with a bunch of little kids. usually by evening the baby crowd had dispersed and only a few families showed up. but still, i remember most other teens in my age group showing little or no interest in "G" rated baby fodder.i remember being a little embarrassed by how silly it was but also being entertained and amused by it none the less. i was always pleased by most everything Disney usually did back in the old days. when i watched the movie on DVD some thirty some years later, i found myself a little flabbergasted as to how brain rotten and lowest common denominator lunk headed it was. Disney comedies are often slapstick and silly, but don't always sink to this sort of brainlessness except possibly in the case of those numerous "monkey" comedies and possibly the junk food "Superdad".i still think it can be pretty funny at times. i mean hey, it has Tim Conway in it. also the scene in the supermarket is pretty darn durned funny in a mindless sort of way.this film mostly seems bent on capitalizing on Disney fans who are also football fans. actually, unless you're a Disney FANATIC or a football FANATIC, you might find your patience tried a bit by the total unimportant inanity of this material. some viewers might even venture to question the I.Q. of this whole thing.oh well. i don't think anybody here thought they were making a great work of art in the first place. at least it's better than those talking mule movies with Donald O'Connor. i've seen those. stinky.

As others have said, the plot is just totally unreal. But the cast, bless their hearts, play this one straight and before you know it, you're sucked in watching. Tim Conway and Tom Bosley pretty much steal the show--my husband, 6-year-old daughter, and I roll on the floor laughing every time we watch this and it's time for the scenes in the hotel and grocery store. Also, worth mentioning are Bob Crane (as the "Old PepperPot"--a sports announcer who's even more obnoxious than Dick Vitale) and football great Johnny Unitas (who can't get a word in edgewise to do the play-by-play). Oh, yes--Dick Enberg's in this one--it was filmed when he still had hair! This one ends with a little twist, too.Great viewing for the whole family, or for one of those nights you want to have friends over and just laugh yourself silly. . .

Once I was watching TV late at night and this stupid-looking movie came on. It was Gus. I can't believe movies like this could be actually pitched to an executive, but I guess Disney can never be underestimated. As I began to watch it, I became enthralled: a mule kicks field goals from any distance and never misses. Alas, the mule gets kidnapped before the BIG GAME and he must be retrieved. Boy was I surprised when he was airlifted back onto the field after an unpleasant yet unbelievable scene involving a supermarket. Don Knotts plays a terrible coach too, but Gus steals the show here. If you want to watch a movie that never should have been made, check out Gus.