Having grown up in the sixties, and having an older brother willing to take me to see the latest Disney movie, I'm surprised I never saw this one. Not that one era is better than another (I honestly can't fathom why Ice Age and Over the Hedge are PG movies), but this one has some PG material by today's standards. This one was G in that time period, when smoking was commonplace and violence in the movies wasn't the issue that it is in the 21st century. It's no cinematic triumph, but it is good, clean fun, and it is very funny! Most parents are probably aware, but for those that aren't, the ratings system has changed since the '60's. Dorothy Provine is good, also, as Smooth's art teacher, but my biggest beef with the movie is the part of the script where she explains her connection to the boss. Robinson seems to relish playing Joe Smooth, a powerful, art-loving mob boss who may be losing it a bit mentally. Bill has, however, become a successful producer/director. This may be the best role Tony Bill ever played-his other roles just seem flat in comparison to this punk, who changes from a creepy armed henchman to a whining, flinching doormat depending on how much trouble he's in. The actors play their stereotyped parts well, highlights being Tony Bill and Joanna Moore. You have the boss, the tough guy, the inept guy, the pro pickpocket, the driver, the dumb broad, and the kid. On some level this movie pokes fun at the typical mob story. Presumptious Florian (Tony Bill), having never seen Ace, makes the mistake, forcing Jack into a situation where his survival depends on his acting. Dick Van Dyke steals the show as Jack Albany, an actor mistaken for renowned hit man Ace Williams (played by Jack Elam). I can't speak for everyone, but the title rings true for me, over and over! The acting is solid all around. All three are present and woven together in a way that certainly held my attention. Three major aspects of comedy: physical/slapstick, situational, and verbal. That all makes it sound heavy, but it's actually incredibly funny. It's not really aimed at children the story is dialogue-driven, and the lead character's predicament is presented through dramatic irony. Long story short, the project was set aside for another day, and "Never a Dull Moment" became a family favorite! This is a Disney movie from the '60's, and as such represents some of Disney's best, before the days of formulaic family movies. I figured I'd watch a few minutes, see what it was all about, and finish labeling the tapes. Elton John was an executive producer on It's A Boy Girl Thing, and songs from his back catalog appear on the soundtrack.I came across this one while organizing videos my family had taped-I was about to take it out when this started playing. Neither is comfortable with their sudden gender switch or having to assume the other's personalities, but they quickly realize that until they can find a way to reverse the spell, they have to work together if Nell is to go to Yale and Woody is to get his scholarship and move away from this loutish parents (Sharon Osborne and Maury Chaykin. Nell and Woody are not at all friendly and normally have nothing to say to one another, but one day during a class field trip to a historical museum, the two fall under the spell of an Incan icon and when they awake the next morning, Woody's mind is in Nell's body, and vice versa. Nell (Samaire Armstrong) is a pretty but hopelessly geeky teenage girl who loves Shakespeare and wants little more than to study literature at Yale when she graduates from high school in a few months Woody (Kevin Zegers), who lives next door, is the quarterback on the school's football team, and seems like a sure bet to land a lucrative football scholarship despite the fact he isn't especially bright. Two kids with nothing in common are brought together in a very unexpected way in this comedy.
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