The North Avenue Irregulars

Who: Bill
What: The North Avenue Irregulars
Where: DVD
Why:An enjoyable Disney comedy

It is my opinion that one of the most underrated live action Disney comedies is The North Avenue Irregulars. Released in 1979, it came out at a time when the Disney Studios was attempting to broaden the appeal of their live action films, which had a reputation for relying on past proven formulas such as animal-themed adventures and wacky slapstick comedies. It isn’t that there was anything wrong with them, but these “G” rated formats had become stale with the release of blockbuster movies such as Jaws, Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind which made Disney films look quaint and old fashioned.

The North Avenue Irregulars succeeds in not only being enjoyable, but is a movie which grown-ups will likely find more entertaining than the kids. Edward Herrmann leads an outstanding cast that includes Cloris Leachman, Susan Clark, Barbara Harris, Karen Valentine, Michael Constantine, Ruth Buzzi, Alan Hale and more.
Herrmann is the newly installed minister of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church. To his dismay, he soon discovers the town beholden to organized crime. So he decides to go after the mob with his own mob-- consisting of some of the congregation’s women! The fun comes from watching the minister and his fabulous females go after the bad guys which all culminates in a wild chase finale. In the midst of all this, be forewarned there is one scene that might make you question how it ended up in a “G” rated Disney movie: Valentine’s character dresses as a prostitute (!) while clumsily investigating a bar being used as a booking joint.


Aside from a basic DVD release several years ago (no bonus features of any kind such as cast interviews or a theatrical trailer), The North Avenue Irregulars has rarely turned up on television. But if you ever see it listed for an upcoming airing, its worth watching. An all-star cast playing characters you just may care about, and solid comedy make this a winning Disney movie.