The North Avenue Irregulars (1979)

When the new Presbyterian minister (Edward Herrmann) arrives to start his pastor duties in a small suburban church, he discovers the town is corrupted by organized gambling and the local police are paid to look the other way. With the assistance of six of his female parishioners, he sets out to expose the corruption. Based on the book by Albert Fay Hill and directed by Bruce Bilson. This family friendly Disney film is surprisingly entertaining and helped by an expert cast of comic actors who punch up some routine material. Bilson keeps up a frantic pace so we don't have time to think how silly it really is and the film's car crashing finale is quite well done, both funny and exciting. The film's animated title sequence seems to have been lifted from the Pink Panther movies right up to Robert F. Brunner aping Henry Mancini's underscore. The large ensemble cast includes Cloris Leachman (who has the movie's funniest gag), Barbara Harris, Susan Clark, Karen Valentine, Patsy Kelly, Ruth Buzzi, Virginia Capers, Michael Consantine, Steven Franken, Douglas Fowley and Alan Hale Jr.