| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that although this film is geared toward kids, it has less to do with its youthful main character, Dexter Riley, than the fictional cereal companies that are vying for a strength formula he created in science class. Watch out for the belittling portrayal of Asian-American culture.
Dexter Riley (Kurt Russell) and his pals have been working in the science lab at Medfield College making vitamin-rich feed for a cow named Ruthie Bell to help her gain weight and produce more milk. Dean Higgins (Joe Flynn) discovers the cost of their experiments and shuts their lab down, firing their favorite teacher. Then, quite by accident, Dexter eats a bowl of the cereal laced with the strength formula, and before you can say Snap, Crackle, Pop he finds he has supernatural strength. Dean Higgins brings the formula to a cereal company, and the stealing of secrets and scheming ensue in this mid-70's caper.
Not as strong as the other two films in the Dexter Riley series, THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD spends more time characterizing the buffoonery of adults than paying attention to the kids who are watching the film. In fact, Kurt Russell spends less time on screen than his many co-stars. Modern day kids might be bored by the lame special effects and the many minutes spent in board meetings with old white men.
Families can talk about whether foods like breakfast cereals can really do everything that they promise. What other kinds of products make such lofty promises? Is Dexter cheating when he takes the strength formula before he performs in the weight-lifting contest?
| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Vincent McEveety |
| Cast: | Eve Arden, Joe Flynn, Kurt Russell |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 5, 1975 |
| DVD release date: | May 4, 1975 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| MPAA explanation: | General Audiences |