Der Retorten-Goliath

This is the final installment in the Medfield High comedy/fantasy trilogy, and is as good as the other two. Yet again Dexter Reilly stumbles upon an incredible scientific discovery which brings him and his friends into another wacky adventure.

Fortunately, the same great cast is involved again including Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero and the brilliant Joe Flynn. Plenty of laughs this time round ensure you're enjoy this movie every time you see it.

College dean Higgins (Joe Flynn) is in danger of losing his job for financial problems. He promises to raise more money in 30 days while using science Prof Quigley as a scapegoat. Student Richard Schuyler is trying out different cereals for a cow. Higgins is horrified at all the money used to feed a cow and fires Quigley. Dexter Riley (Kurt Russell)'s experiment gets mixed with the cereal leading to powerful growth. Dexter tries the cereal himself giving him temporary super-strength. Higgins seizes on the opportunity and sells the formula to the cereal company run by Harriet Crumply. Harriet challenges cereal rival Kirwood Krinkle (Phil Silvers) to a competition. Krinkle calls on his mole V.P. Harry Crumply who is jealous of Harriet. Harry hires A.J. Arno who is just out of prison.

This is a functional Dexter Riley movie although I like "Now You See Him, Now You Don't" the most in the series. I don't think lifting things is the most exciting cinematic move. I actually think super speed is a superior power visually. It has more comedic potential and it would fit the car perfectly. This type of live-action Disney family comedies is fading in popularity at the time. Also this movie needs more Kurt Russell. There are sections where he is absent and he should not be. Richard Schuyler is in this more than Dexter Riley. Kurt Russell may be trying to slip away from his Disney roots at this time.

Having seen all of the Dexter Riley films that Disney has put out, I can honestly say that "The Strongest Man in the World" is my favorite.

And why not? Not only does it have Russell in all his youthful exuberance and Flynn as the eternally befuddled Dean Higgins but it also features parts for Eve Arden, Phil Silvers and Cesar Romero as A. J. Arno, the Alonzo Hawk for the '70s.

When Russell and his fellow college cronies discover a potion and add it to their favorite breakfast cereal, it gives whoever consumes it super-human strength. Of course, every unscrupulous character within reach is after it and will go to any lengths necessary (even Chinese acupuncture hypnosis. You heard me.) to gain their ends.

Wild special effects highlight this film, and as always, Flynn takes his broad, funny role as Higgins and runs with it, showing off the benefits of super-human strength to an amazed Arden and her associates.

It may be set in the '70s but gags like this stand the test of time. And "The Strongest Man in the World" is still as funny now as it ever was.

What can I say; If it has Joe Flynn in it, I'll watch it.

Ten stars. And one more thing: if you're the dean of a college, never let Kurt Russell borrow your car.

The third in Disney's Dexter Riley trilogy starring Kurt Russell. This time college student Dexter accidentally creates a formula that, when mixed with a vitamin cereal, gives him temporary super strength. Since the school is once again in financial trouble, Dexter and friends decide to use the formula to help out. How they do this is silly. It involves a weightlifting contest and a cereal company rivalry. Villainous A.J. Arno (Caesar Romero) from the previous films also returns, up to no good as usual. Russell's good and the series regulars like Romero and Joe Flynn are lots of fun. This would be Flynn's last movie. Nice support this time from Phil Silvers, Dick Van Patten, and the always cool Eve Arden. Pleasant, likable family comedy. It's corny but fun.

I grew up with the Dexter Riley/Medfield college trio of films. Well kind of, I was in grade school with The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes came out and a freshman in High School when Now You See Him Now You Don't was released. I enjoyed both of them and kind of got an image (mostly false as it turned out) of what lay in store for me at college. They were silly Disney fare that I loved then and still do today because they take me back to my youth.

By the time this movie came out I was a senior in high school and wasn't much interested in Disney moves any longer. But I did see it later on TV and I have to say it failed to live up to the first two. The first two movies were silly and fun, this movie was just silly, not so much fun. It seemed strained, as if all the actors from the first two were trying to squeeze the magic out of their characters one final time and having trouble succeeding. Kurt Russell was a no-show for much of the film, probably because he was trying to distance himself from Disney at the time and it was just as well. He was in his twenties by this time and the Dexter Riley persona no longer fit him. Cesar Romero seemed like he was just going through the motions. As if they asked him to play A.J. Arno one more time and he agreed either for a paycheck or out of nostalgia for what once was. And Joe Flynn, back as Dean Higgins was another story. He passed away not long after filming this movie and it's very apparent throughout the film that he's not well and is just a shadow of his former self. It's really sad to watch.

This movie was the last in a long line of live action Disney college/teenager movies and it barely manages to stumble across the finish line. Watch the first two Dexter Riley movies, they're well worth your time. This one not so much.