Mule scores field goal, film scores touchdown

"Gus"
Overall Rating: ****


I suppose I'm taking a big chance with my credibility by telling everyone on my list to go out and see, and perhaps even buy, a kids' movie, especially when said movie is a beloved piece of my childhood which I almost certainly can't deal with impartially. Nevertheless, almost two decades after I first saw "Gus," I still love it.

When Hank Cooper (Edward Asner), the financially strapped owner of the completely inept California Atoms football team, learns about Gus, a mule who can accurately kick soccer balls (and therefore, presumably, footballs) 100 yards, he sees a halftime show that might draw crowds. This also presents an oportunity for Andy Petrovic (Gary Grimes), Gus' young owner, who can't escape from the shadow of his illustrious brother, a Yugoslavian soccer hero. However, when Cooper makes a bet (his last resort to refinance the team) that he can turn the perennial losers into Super Bowl material, he uses a technicality in NFL rules to send the mule in to kick field goals.

The plot of "Gus" isn't just thin, it's emaciated. I sincerely doubt that the NFL's official rules would permit a mule to play as a kicker, for instance. That's really part of the point; the whole movie is silliness, so stretching things here isn't so bad. While wisecracks do abound, most of the comedy is slapstick. "Gus" has as many football bloopers in its first ten minutes as most expansion teams have in their premier season. As if the players weren't bad enough, the cheerleaders are clumsy making for even more pratfalls. The attempts to kidnap the mule or otherwise sabotage his efforts always produce hilarious results. The final mulenapping causes a chase through a supermarket that's easily one of the funniest scenes in any movie I've seen.

Most of the perfomances are decent. The real highlights are Tom Bosley and Tim Conway, who play the villains Spinner and Crankcase; they manage to avoid being too scary for kids, but still remain menacing. Asner is also pretty good as the wisecracking team owner. Another smaller part worthy of mention is Bob Crane as the overblown sportscaster Pepper. Whether the animal training counts as a performance or special effects, the mule does a wonderful job as well; kicking, fainting, running, and nodding on cue, "Gus" takes an animal peformance about as far as a film can without animation and/or voice overs.

"Gus" also remains in safe territory for children. There is no graphic violence, no real nudity (the locker room scene is filmed at chest level), and no strong language (I'm not sure there's even anything as strong as "damn"). Coming from Disney before Disney was controversial, it shouldn't be surprising that we have a movie that the "G" rating was meant for.

On the downside, however, some aspects of the film such as cinematography and sound are adequate, but not much more. Theme can also be included on this list; "Gus" is shallow. Psychologically, there's nothing deeper than sibbling rivaly and puppy love. If you're looking for lofty philosophical ideas, or even an accurate Super Bowl prediction, you'd be looking at the wrong movie. Still, finding the silver lining on this cloud, at least kids won't missanything.

"Gus" is good for an hour and a half worth of laughs. Children will almost certainly love "Gus" (even if they don't understand football--they'll know, for instance, that you're not supposed hand the ball off to the referees). I also suspect that even adults who didn't grow up with it will enjoy "Gus." I still have a soft spot for him.


Title: "Gus"
Release date: 1976

MPAA rating: G
Overall rating: ****

Aprox. run time: 96 min.
Director: Vincent McEveety
Writers: Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson, Ted Key (story)
Stars: Edward Asner, Gary Grimes

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/Gus.htm
Added to blog site: 8/3/09