Deep In The Plus - Disney+ Reviews

Welcome to Deep in the Plus!

Each week, we go deep into the Disney+ library and pull out of hidden classic that you might have overlooked.

This week's pick is from way back in the far out '60s, where cellphones weren't a thing and Kurt Russell was king! It's Disney's The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes!

The students from Medfield college, led by Dexter Riley (played by Disney legend Kurt Russell) are in need of a computer in 1969.

They convince businessman A.J. Arno (played by Cesar Romero) to donate one and when it needs to be repaired during an electrical storm, Dexter receives the shock of his life - literally!

Suddenly, the computer's brain has fused with his and he's a genius, of course. Unfortunately, he also has knowledge about Arno's illegal gambling operations, which were stored in the computer. Now, Dexter is a celebrity... but Arno wants him eliminated. What happens next?

Well, grab your sneakers and hold on tight, because we're going Deep in the Plus!

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

While maybe not the "best" movie Disney produced, this movie is still an important IP in Disney History. Not only is it the first movie in a "Dexter Riley Trilogy" with Disney Legend Kurt Russell, but it also takes place at Medfield College.

This was a fictitious college that Disney used as a backdrop for some of their finest family films of the time, including The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and Son of Flubber (1963); and the 'Dexter Rilley' trilogy: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969), Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972), and The Strongest Man in the World (1975).

It was also the scene for the Robin Williams remake, Flubber in 1997.  Watch or listen to our show and find out more!

Plus, in every episode, you'll get bonus recommendations as we present our "Deep Pick of the Week." This is where we offer suggestions on even more gems from the Disney+ vault. Don't miss it!

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

TRON: Legacy

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Aladdin: Return of Jafar

The Apple Dumpling Gang

Kim Possible: The Series

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://youtu.be/bcmAalTCyeI

Welcome back to another edition of Deep in the Plus!

Each week, we go deep into the Disney+ catalog and pull out a little that you might have overlooked, and we tell you if we think it’s worth your time.

So, here’s the sitch!  This week, we’re talking about our first series, Kim Possible!

Kim Possible played by Christy Carlson Romano is just your average high-school cheerleader, but in her spare time, she saves the world from super villains. Her best friend, Ron Stoppable, played by Will Friedle, and his pet Rufus always have her back.  Then there’s the guy in the chair––no, not that guy––but the resourceful webmaster named Wade Load. Together, they collaborate on secret missions and each episode, they save the world! When she's not defeating the bad guys, Kim still has to cope with typical pressures of school, family, and social life. So the drama!

So call, me beep me if you wanna reach me, cause we’re going, deep in the plus!

Kim Possible is still a show that stands the test of time. It's as fun and as relevant as the first time you watched it. Mix in all of the special guests and tongue-in-cheek humor, and this one definitely falls into the re-watch category. But watch our review––we cover it all from top to bottom!

Plus, get bonus recommendations as we present our "Deep Pick of the Week." This is where we offer suggestions on even more gems from the Disney+ vault. Don't miss it!

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

TRON: Legacy

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Aladdin: Return of Jafar

The Apple Dumpling Gang

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://youtu.be/Deo3U25YLNE

Howdy folks, and welcome to the wildest REVIEW in the wilderness!

Each week, we go deep into the Disney+ catalog and pull out a little that you might have overlooked, and we tell you if it’s Disney+ or Disney Minus…

This week, we’re taking on our first Western, The Apple Dumpling Gang!

Set in the Wild West, around the time of the gold rush in 1879, it’s a story about 3 poor orphans are left with a slick gambler named Russell Donovan (played by Bill Bixby.) The kids discover they have actually inherited a large gold mine from their father. They find gold and soon a series of greedy undesirables step up to claim it for their own. They turn to a lovable outlaw duo, Theodore (played by Don Knotts) and Amos (played by Tim Conway) and of course, wackiness ensues. Also featuring MASH star Henry Morgan, Western movie legend Slim Pickens, this movie is classic Disney... but is it worth your time?

We’re here to give you that answer and more, so saddle up, partners, as we take you... Deep in the Plus!

Apple Dumpling Gang Review

This was the first movie to pair veteran actors Don Knotts and Tim Conway, but began a long line of buddy movies with these guys. These two also appeared in other Disney films such as Gus in 1976 and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again in 1979. Learn more when you watch this episode of Deep in the Plus!

Plus, get bonus recommendations as we present our "Deep Pick of the Week." This is where we offer suggestions on even more gems from the Disney+ vault. Don't miss it!

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

TRON: Legacy

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Aladdin: Return of Jafar

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://youtu.be/5LXo_reTn8w

We are back, and taking you deep into the offerings on the Disney+ streaming service. This week, we’re talking about the Disney animated sequel that started them all, The Return of Jafar.

In many ways, this was a milestone movie. Return of Jafar was the first movie created by Disney MovieToons animation studio and Walt Disney Television Animation, who went on to produce numerous sequels, prequels, and mid-quels to be distributed by Walt Disney Home Video. This one was the first "direct to video" Disney animated sequel.

For this story, most of the original cast returns: Scott Weinger (Aladdin), Linda Larkin (Princess Jasmine) and Jonathan Freeman (Jafar). This tale picks up where the 1992 Aladdin film left off, as Aladdin and Jasmine are adjusting to life in the palace. Meanwhile, Jafar has been imprisoned in a magic lamp, but an inept thief, Abis Mal (Jason Alexander), is about to change that. Luckily for Aladdin and friends, Jafar's parrot, Iago (Gilbert Gottfried), has switched to their side. Consider this Iago's redemption story.

This movie also serves as the kick off to the Aladdin TV series that ran for 3 seasons, although that series is not currently available on Disney+.

Another big note is that this movie and the series took place without the talented Robin Williams. Instead, famed voice actor Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, plays the beloved Genie. And, while he does a good job, he's just not Robin. Learn more when you watch this episode of Deep in the Plus!

Plus, get bonus recommendations as we present our "Deep Pick of the Week." This is where we offer suggestions on even more gems from the Disney+ vault. Don't miss it!

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

TRON: Legacy

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://youtu.be/ZyvRpuY1kwg

The holiday season is upon us, and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is one of the most treasured stories of this time of year. This week, Rob and Jill look at one that involves puppets. That's right, we're going deep into 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol.

The film stars a human - namely Michael Caine - as Ebeneezer Scrooge. Caine is brilliant in the role, all the more so because he is escorted through Scrooge's redemption by a cadre of Muppets. Kermit the Frog is Bob Cratchit; Fozzie the Bear plays Fozziwig. Gonzo the Great takes the role of Dickens himself and narrates the story, accompanied by Rizzo the Rat as comic relief. Waldorf and Statler split the Marley role into two brothers, and you'll find many other beloved muppets popping up throughout the film as well. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, however, are Muppets created just for these roles.

This movie had high expectations to meet - it was the first Muppets film made after the death of Jim Henson. It also features a compelling soundtrack with songs penned by Paul Williams, who co-wrote the famous "Rainbow Connection."

There are many versions of this story, including some others you can find on Disney+, such as the beloved Mickey's Christmas Carol. So is The Muppet Christmas Carol worth your Christmas-time? Watch this week's episode to find out!

Plus, get bonus recommendations as Rob and Jill present their "Deep Pick of the Week." Hint: If you're a Boy Meets World fan, you'll want to catch Rob's pick this week.

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

TRON: Legacy

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://youtu.be/F_Iyb6MZOoE

Let's go back to 1940 by way of 1971 as we talk Bedknobs and Broomsticks, a Disney live-action/animated feature set in England during World War II. This week on Deep in the Plus, Rob and Jill discuss this often-overlooked Disney classic that lives in the shadow of Mary Poppins. Walt actually had a hand in the making of this film, even though it came out several years after his death. Ward Kimball, one of Disney's Nine Old Men, directed the animated sequences. The Sherman Brothers lent their talents with captivating melodies like "Portobello Road" and "Substitutiary Locomotion."

The film features aspiring witch Elgantine Price (Angela Lansbury) who wants to use her supernatural talents to end the war. Set during the Blitz, in which the Germans relentlessly bombed London, Price is asked to take in three children displaced by the bombings. They learn she's a witch and accompany her on her quest to find the final spell that she believes will turn the tide of war. With the help of the instructor of her witchcraft correspondence course, Dr. Emelius Brown (David Tomlinson), Miss Price finally gets her wish.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a little bit Harry Potter and a little bit Mary Poppins. But is it worth your time to watch?

Plus, get bonus recommendations as Rob and Jill present their "Deep Pick of the Week." Hint: Jill's pick is a great watch considering Walt's birthday is December 5th. Also, Jill talks about Aristotle...

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

TRON: Legacy

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://youtu.be/T77xvNbxlww

Join Rob and Jill this week as Deep in the Plus dives into the 2010 sci-fi adventure TRON: Legacy. It's a sequel (or arguably a reboot) of the 1982 cult-classic TRON. Neither movie overwhelmed at the box office, but the TRON franchise remains popular among Disney and sci-fi fans to this day. Disney even built a ride based on the IP in Shanghai Disneyland. The attraction was such a success that a version of the ride is currently under construction in the Magic Kingdom, set to open in 2021.

The film takes place 28 years after the original, in which hero Kevin Flynn journeys into a virtual world. Legacy centers around Flynn's son Sam, who goes in search of his father; Kevin went missing 8 years after the events of the first film. The movie is visually stunning and tells the next chapter of the TRON story. For fans of the franchise, it offers many callbacks to the original, and serves up plenty of the iconic identity disks and light cycles. But is it worth watching with so many choices on Disney+? Rob and Jill don't see eye to eye on this one. Is TRON: Legacy a must-watch for Disney fans, or is the IP better than the films on which it's based?

Plus, get bonus recommendations as Rob and Jill present their "Deep Pick of the Week." Hint: If you like this week's movie pick, it's a good bet you'll like Rob's pick too.

You can also go back and check out our previous episodes reviewing the back catalog of Disney content on the Disney+ streaming network:

Newsies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/KdwkfD6jTW4

This week, Deep in the Plus resurfaces with a look at one of Disney's less memorable animated films from the 1990s, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Released in the summer of 1996 in the wake of some of the most popular Disney films of all time - The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King - Hunchback has faded from memory despite its box-office success.

In the film, set in the late 15th century, Quasimodo (voiced by Tom Hulce) lives a sheltered life as the bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. However, he longs to be "out there" amid the people rather than locked away in his bell tower. Meanwhile his master, Frollo (Tony Jay), is on a mission to purge the city of gypsies, including the lovely young Esmeralda (Demi Moore). Quasimodo helps to rescue her from Frollo, and in doing so sees Frollo's villainy as well as the possibility of being accepted by others.

While far less dark than the Victor Hugo novel on which it is based, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is still widely considered Disney's darkest animated film. Rob and Jill take a look at what makes it so dark and how it differs from other films of the Disney Renaissance period. Is it worth a watch when there are so many titles to choose from on Disney+?

Plus, get extra bonus recommendations as Rob and Jill present their "Deep Pick of the Week." Hint: one of this week's picks honors the birthday of a beloved Disney icon...

If you missed it, you can also go back and check out the debut episode of Deep in the Plus where we talk about the 1992 live-action musical Newsies.

Get notified of new Deep in the Plus episodes each week by subscribing at YouTube.com/WDWNT. You can also follow Deep in the Plus on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts on each week's picks.

On this week’s series premiere episode, Rob and Jill talk about Disney’s 1992 cult-classic musical, Newsies! Directed by Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) and starring a young Christian Bale (Ford vs Ferrari), this film is based on actual events of the New York newsboys strike of 1899. With music from Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid) and featuring Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall, and Ann Margaret, Newsies would go on to become a Broadway musical and a guilty, nostalgic pleasure for Generation X. Is it worth your screen time? Watch this week’s episode to find out!