Walt Disney had a winner with this quirky little film. You can tell from the first scene that the movie is vintage 1979. The fashion statements as well as the language is reminiscent of old-form Disney--Dean Jones' Herbie saga, The Apple Dumpling Gang offerings, and the like. You can't beat the campy opening scene where Delaney (Douglas F0wley) gets knocked out of the church belfry he's in the process of painting.

The story line tells all about the haphazard way that the Rev. Mike Hill (Edward Herrmann), single father and new parish pastor of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church, literally falls into his new position. While trying to involve the people in the everyday operation of the church, he entrusts church funds to one of the families who promptly lose the money betting on a longshot. The bulk of the movie shows how a group of ladies from the church work with Treasury Department agents and their pastor to catch the bosses of the gambling ring.

Classic clothing, nostalgic cars, and a demolition derby-style chase scene highlight this romping good time. Featured is a cast of the near-famous, including Karen Valentine, Cloris Leachman, Ruth Buzzy, and Alan Hale, Jr.

What speaks the loudest in the movie is not the comedy based on the attempts to moralize a small community, but the eerily true-to-life approach of a young minister to bring life into a stagnant church--including letting the church membership be involved in the goings on of the church and enlisting the help of a "rockin' hip band" to liven up the drab music during worship.

This movie is good for a trip to a time when censors had a say in comic movies, and those who have a view to church life with a twist of humor. The North Avenue Irregulars gets three out of five thumbs. Put it in your queue for an hour and a half of good clean fun.