Aventuras en la nieve

Dean Jones once again goes through his Disney paces, giving a typically engaging performance as Johnny Baxter, an accountant who inherits a run-down lodge in Colorado. He hears that the place pulls in $14,000 a month, and that's enough for him to say sayonara to his current job and pull stakes & head for Colorado. He eventually gets the bright idea to turn the lodge into a ski resort. There are, of course, obstacles along the road to success, but he's determined to realize this dream.

These live-action Disney comedies of the 1960s and 1970s were certainly formula-bound, but this one works pretty well, thanks to a generous amount of genuine laughs, and some truly impressive stunts on the snowy slopes. Much of the running time is devoted to skiing and snowmobiling mishaps, and the hilarious highlight is when Johnny makes his first attempt at skiing. (He's reasoned that he should have some knowledge of the sport if he's going to be running a ski lodge.) The whole thing may be silly, but it's *agreeably* silly, complete with a suitably smarmy, and fun, performance by Keenan Wynn as the greedy, villainous banker Martin Ridgeway.

The cast features a number of familiar faces: Nancy Olson (the female lead in "The Absent-Minded Professor" 11 years previous) as Johnny's wife, Kathleen Cody ("Hot Summer Week") and Johnny Whitaker ('Family Affair') as his kids, a priceless Harry Morgan, pre-'M*A*S*H', as grizzled old fart Jesse McCord, Michael McGreevey (from two of the Dexter Riley Disney comedies) as amiable Wally Perkins, George Lindsey of 'The Andy Griffith Show' as local character "Double L Dingman", Mary Wickes ("Sister Act" 1 and 2) as Ridgeway's secretary, and Dick Van Patten of 'Eight is Enough' fame as Johnny's boss in the opening scenes.

Overall, an upbeat and goofy comedy that is good for a family audience, with the kind of protagonists for whom it is easy to root.

Seven out of 10.

This is absolutely one of the funniest movies I've ever seen without subjecting the viewer to low class potty humor or vulgarity. Most people won't find it as funny as today's vulgar and crass humor or the insipid "dumb and dumber" type of humor. However, if you are looking for something for the entire family that is clean and at the same time hilarious, this is it! My family never tires of watching this movie for a good laugh. They certainly don't make good, clean movies like they used to which is a great pity! I wish I could buy a collection of Dean Jones' movies at one time. I love his ability to seem foolish and yet come out the hero without superficial trappings that seem to be required of most heroes today. He is an "everyman" hero and one that obviously has integrity where other lack it.

We still watch this movie often and still laugh a lot at it. It's one of our favorites. We still often joke about the name on the snowmobile. Does anyone know where the hotel scene was shot and if the hotel still stands? Was it built for the movie? Was it in the Crested Butte area? We visited Crested Butte today, and yes, it looks quite a bit different from the movie. I also wonder if the scenes at the bank were shot in this area or in a studio. I agree with other posts that Harry Morgan was superb. The look on his face when he talked about getting the skiers in where it was warm was absolutely priceless. Keenan Wynn was a great conniving heavy in his role, and Mary Wickes perfect as his secretary.

This is another one of those all-star-cast Disney films that we just don't see made anymore...and that's a shame. Dean Jones stars as an over worked blue-collar type that loads up the family and moves them to the mountains. Lots of silly antics; the comedy sequences are timed so right, and the story flows evenly throughout. Harry Morgan is a gem in this film. There are great skiing scenes throughout, and a rip-roaring race at the end. This is a classic '70s Disney comedy that still holds up today. It's out on DVD too, so, if you're a collector, add it to your collection. I did. Yes...from start to finish, you'll laugh enough times to make you want to watch it again!

I have a well-worn, copied from tv version of this movie that I watch again and again. The cast is wonderful and the ski and snow-mobile scenes leave me laughing till I cry. Harry Morgan gives (in my opinion) one of his best performances and Dean Jones is in fine form with other Disney regulars making this an exceptional family movie. Could we please see a release in the near future?? Families need movies like these!