Kurt Russellhas starred in iconic movies likeTombstoneandStargate, but in the 1960s, he starred in an unorthodox trilogy of films due to acontract he signed with Walt Disney Pictures. This trilogy consists of the filmsThe Computer Wore Tennis Shoes,Now You See Him, Now You Don’tandThe Strongest Man in the World, with Russell playing the part of college student Dexter Riley, whooften finds himself gaining superhuman abilities due to a freak accident. Riley’s adventures aren’t just a unique take on science fiction tropes, but one of the more underrated series of Disney films out there — and a reminder that the Mouse House should strive for more original films in the future.
The Dexter Riley Trilogy Works Because of Its Outlandish Premises - And Kurt Russell’s Charm
Each film in the Dexter Riley trilogy usually begins with Dexterencountering a life-changing event on the grounds of Medfield University. InThe Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, he is struck by a bolt of lightning while repairing a computer, which grants him superhuman intelligence. InNow You See Him, Now You Don’t, he invents a formula with his friends which turns the user invisible.The Strongest Man in the Worldfinds Dexter dropping one of his experimental formulas into a box of breakfast cereal… and when he eats said cereal, he gains superhuman strength. What stops these movies from being utterly forgettable science fiction stories is Russell’s performance as Dexter. He plays Dexter as an intelligent kid who manages to roll with the strange changes in his life and even turns things to his advantage;The Strongest Man in the Worldsees him utilizing his newfound super-strength to enter a competition and win the necessary funds to help Medfield out of a jam.
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The biggest recurring threat in the Dexter Riley trilogy would be A. J. Arno (Cesar Romero), a seemingly benevolentbusinessman who’s secretly a crime lord. Arno ends up donating the computer that caused Dexter’s surge of super-intelligence; it turns out the computer contains information that might incriminate Arno, so he sends his thugs to kill Dexter and keep his name clear. InNow You See Him, Now You Don’t, he steals Dexter’s invisibility formula to line his own pockets, and inThe Strongest Man in the World, Arno wants to replicate the super-strength cereal to bolster his newfound cereal company, even going so far as to try and steal Dexter’s formula.Having arecurring foekeeps a sense of continuity between the films, and provides a tangible threat for Dexter. Going to a small college that struggles with money problems is the perfect setup to have a foe who’s a billionaire criminal.
Dexter Riley’s Adventures Are a Reminder That Disney Should Do More Original Sci-Fi
The Dexter Riley trilogy came at a time when Disneywas starting to experiment with original science fiction films, resulting in some unique stories.Escapeto Witch Mountaindealt with twins who had psychic abilities…and also happened to be aliens.The Black Holewas an existential nightmare. But Disney’s biggest swing into science fiction would come withTron; like the Dexter Riley films, it featured a premise that was cutting edge at the time, while also helping to pioneer the field of computer effects (and becoming part ofa landmark moment in movie history.)Tronhas remained one of Disney’s more underrated franchises, spawning sequels inTron: LegacyandTron: Ares,but it might not have been possible if the Dexter Riley films didn’t come first.
These days, an original science fiction film from Disney usually faces one of two fates: it’s critically acclaimed but remains overshadowed by other films from the Mouse House, or it bombs at the box office.Meet the Robinsons,Atlantis: The Lost Empire, andStrange Worldhave all suffered the same fate, despite having genuinely unique premises. A large part of why Disney doesn’t really delve into original science fiction is that it leans on theStar Warsfilms and theMarvel Cinematic Universe, alongside assorted franchises from 20th Century Studios, to fill the sci-fi quotient. But that can only take you so far; if Disney wants to reverse its recent fortunes at the box office, taking on an original film would be the best bet. Or, if it wants to think outside the box for its live-action reboot, a Dexter Riley film could work while giving a relative newcomer the same chance that Kurt Russell had.
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Now You See Him, Now You Don’tandThe Strongest Man in the Worldare available to stream on Disney+.
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
