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Howard Thompson New York Times In this genial but strained and arch frolic, the one real joke is not only "in" but it wears thin and even frantic. Rated: 2.5/5 May 9, 2005 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 3/5 Aug 15, 2004 Full Review TV Guide This is a very funny satire of television. Rated: 3/4 Apr 1, 2012 Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) A trenchant satire on corporate greed . . . oh, not really. Funny, silly chimp movie. Rated: 3/5 Sep 23, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Dec 18, 2004 Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Rated: 3/5 Nov 15, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

steve d Only fun is from seeing young Russell. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member An executive is always never a bad idea even if he is barefoot. Or in this case differs from our DNA by 3%. Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista present a young Kurt Russell is a mailroom clerk with Raffles the chimp. Steven Post is always making suggestions to boots the ratings at a failing tv station but they are always ignored. His girlfriend Jennifer is taking care of an out-of-work chimpanzee. Both seem to be at rock bottom. But Steven discovers something remarkable; this chimp can actually predict TV ratings. So he may have something on the table to save the business. This is one of the many live-action Disney entries that puts together animal-buddy antics with family friendliness. But how long can Steven keep up the ruse making it to the top of the charts? Russell is so likable, I really like his girlfriend being so understanding, and this plot is funny. Even a young John Ritter here plays a disgustingly enjoyable tv executive. Plus this also serves as a funny satire of television, it's hard to know what people like watching these days. As soon as something comes on they cancel it. It's tough too to know what program will do better in the ratings and appeal to mass audiences. But even a chimp can predict our tastes. Maybe we can even make better decisions and not rely on corporate greed. This is a very good Disney live action flick that's giggle worthy and that's adorable to have a cute furry star at its center. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review r 9 A film that deteriorates as it goes on. 'The Barefoot Executive' begins in entertaining fashion, as it sets up the plot with Steven (Kurt Russell) and chimp Raffles. It's all enjoyable enough, it's a cool and amusing concept. The first act is good. However, after a middling middle act it then produces a relatively terrible third act - with unnecessary focus put on the characters of Joe Flynn (Francis) and Wally Cox (Mertons). They definitely didn't know how to end this, the final lot of scenes are so pointless and predictable. That's a shame, as the opening chunk of the film is more than up to scratch. Russell gives another acceptable performance, Flynn is actually pretty solid when his character isn't shoehorned upfront. Heather North is alright as Jennifer, if a little plain. The chimp is as cute as you'd expect. It looked like a film that I would thoroughly like at first, sadly it got comparatively worse as it went on. I would still say it's better than a lot of other works from Disney, it just could've/should've been greater. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Great premise - which I'm tempted to believe is based on real events. A great supporting cast which wasn't used to potential. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member (First and only viewing - Summer 2009) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member A chimp and Kurt Russell in this underwhelming fairly typical 70s Disney film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Synopsis Enthusiastic mailroom clerk Steven Post (Kurt Russell) hassles the uppity director of programming, Francis Wilbanks (Joe Flynn), on a daily basis with his ideas on how to salvage the ratings of their faltering television studio, but he's always shot down. Steven's girlfriend, Jennifer Scott (Heather North), is caring for a recently abandoned television-watching, beer-swilling chimpanzee named Raffles, and when Steven realizes that the chimp can predict television ratings, he hatches a new plan.

Director

Robert Butler

Production Co

Walt Disney Productions

Rating

G

Genre

Kids & Family, Comedy

Original Language

English

Release Date (Streaming)

Mar 1, 2013

Runtime

1h 36m

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