The California Atoms are in last place with no hope of moving up. But by switching the mule from team mascot to team member, (He can kick 100 yard field goals!) they start winning, and move up in the rankings, Hurrah! The competition isn't so happy.
Acting
Ed Asner's beleaguered team owner is peak '70s exhaustion.
Practical Effects
They trained an ACTUAL MULE. Animal stunts > CGI.
Direction
Vincent McEveety keeps this nonsense barely coherent.
Director
Vincent McEveety
Ed Asner
Hank Cooper
Don Knotts
Coach Venner
Gary Grimes
Andy Petrovic
Tim Conway
Crankcase
Louise Williams
Debbie Kovac
Dick Van Patten
Cal Wilson
Ronnie Schell
Joe Barnsdale
Bob Crane
Pepper
Johnny Unitas
Himself
Dick Butkus
Rob Cargil
Harold Gould
Charles Gwynn
Tom Bosley
Spinner
Virginia O'Brien
Reporter
Kenneth Tobey
Asst. Warden
Richard Kiel
Tall Man
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The mule, named Gus in real life too, had a stunt double for 'dangerous' kicks. Yes, a mule stunt double.
This was Disney's desperate attempt to replicate 'The Love Bug' success with another animal-as-athlete premise. It did not.
US
