Alley Cats Strike
Upbeat Disney underdog sports drama has positive messages.
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Alley Cats Strike
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Alley Cats Strike is a family sports drama -- with many positive messages -- about a boy and his outsider friends who spend their spare time bowling. It is a feel-good Disney TV movie with some fun scenes and catchy music. The overall message is not to judge others and that kindness and community are more important than winning -- Alex (Kyle Schmid) and his friends try to steer clear of any school spirit until they are forced to take part in a big inter-school competition. Some of the characters appear stereotypical at first, and the different groups make fun of each other at school. But the "underdogs" on the bowling team stand up for themselves and don't care what others think. Many authority figures put pressure on the younger characters to win, and the two town mayors place a bet on the game. But there are no "bad guys" in the movie. There is an underlying story about Alex's father struggling financially because the bowling alley is unpopular, but it's also the catalyst for characters to come together to try and help.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In ALLEY CATS STRIKE, Alex Thompson (Kyle Schmid) spends his days at his father's bowling alley, playing with friends and avoiding the trappings of regular school life. But when a big annual school sports competition ends in a tie, it's decided the tie-break match should be between the school's bowling teams.
Is It Any Good?
A wholesome, old-fashioned feeling of nostalgia runs through this sweet family movie, from the music to the portrayal of the innocence of youth. Rod Daniel -- director of 80s high-school comedy, Teen Wolf -- lines up the perfect mix of teen drama and town spirit to keep it energetic, with some fun training and dance montages thrown in. The underlying story of finding common ground in different schools is hardly original and is packed with clichés. But the strong identities of the bowling group compared to the jocks and cheerleaders gives it almost a High School Musical feel, with the predictable story rolling along at an enjoyable pace.
Alley Cats Strike builds the pressure well, and creates a strong sense of community within the town, even as it shows the downsides to placing such a strong onus on competition. Most of the young actors are convincing and the eagle-eyed will spot a young Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory among the bowling buddies. That said, some of the adult acting is a touch hammy at times. Overall, this is inoffensive fun with a solid message that'll strike a chord and have the whole family cheering for the team.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive messages in Alley Cats Strike. How does the movie teach us not to judge on first impressions? What other messages does the movie teach us?
How are stereotypes used in the movie? Were they necessary to the story? How stereotypes in movies and on TV can impact kids' development.
Discuss the father-son relationships in the movie -- what are the similarities and differences between them? What makes a good relationship between a parent and child?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 18, 2000
- Cast: Kyle Schmid, Robert Ri'chard, Kaley Cuoco
- Director: Rod Daniel
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Friendship, High School
- Character Strengths: Communication, Courage, Teamwork
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Mighty Ducks
Classic kids' sports movie has some iffy humor, language.
-
Little Giants
Underdog comedy with potty humor and positive messages.
-
Go Figure
Tween sports dramedy teaches the importance of friendship.
For kids who love sports
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate