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*The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes*
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
	Official advertisement poster
Genre	Science fiction comedy;
Based on	The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes; by Joseph L. McEveety
Written by	Joseph L. McEveety; Ryan Rowe;
Directed by	Peyton Reed
Starring	Kirk Cameron
Music by	Philip Giffin
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	George Zaloom; Les Mayfield; Scott Immergut;
Producer	Joseph B. Wallenstein
Cinematography	Russ Alsobrook
Editor	Jeff Gourson
Running time	87 minutes
Production companies	Zaloom/Mayfield Productions; Walt Disney Television;
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	February 18, 1995

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is a 1995 American made-for-television science fiction comedy film directed by Peyton Reed (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Joseph L. McEveety and Ryan Rowe. The film is a remake of the 1969 film of the same name. It premiered on ABC as an ABC Family Movie on February 18, 1995. It is the second in a series of four remakes of Disney live-action films produced for broadcast on the network during the 1994–95 television season, the other three being The Shaggy Dog, Escape to Witch Mountain, and Freaky Friday.^[1]

The film stars Kirk Cameron in the lead role of Dexter Riley, a boy who becomes an instant genius, with encyclopedic knowledge. The film also co-stars Larry Miller and Dean Jones plays the role of an evil dean from a competing school.^[2]

Plot

Dexter, a once lazy and underachieving student at Medfield College, becomes an instant genius when a freak computer lab accident transfers an entire online encyclopedia to his brain. He uses his newfound intellect to ace a physics midterm in under ten minutes. The dean of Medfield College wishes to capitalize on Dexter’s superb intelligence by placing him on the school's quiz bowl team and allowing him to recruit his friends as teammates.^[3]

Medfield College wins several quiz bowls matches with Dexter exclusively answering every question. He receives national recognition and generates positive publicity for Medfield College. Dexter's success also has a negative impact. His friends believe he is becoming too conceited and contemplate leaving the quiz bowl team. Norwood Gill, a child prodigy and computer hacker from a rival school that won the Quiz Bowl three times and develops an obsession with Dexter, and probes into his background. Government agents also investigate Dexter as a potential computer hacker known as "Viper".^[3]

Norwood ultimately uncovers the origin of Dexter's intellect. He exposes the information during a quiz bowl broadcast, but the revelation is largely dismissed by the audience. As Norwood prepares to compete against Dexter in the quiz bowl championship, he infects him with a computer virus that negates his encyclopedic knowledge. The virus takes full-effect midway through the championship, forcing Dexter to rely on his teammates for support. Medfield College ultimately wins the championship and celebrates. Norwood is apprehended by government agents for committing several cybercrimes when he exposes himself as the viper.^[3]

Cast

Kirk Cameron as Dexter Riley
Larry Miller as Dean Al Valentine
Jason Bernard as Professor Miles Quigley
Andrew Woodworth as Will Rafferty
Anne Marie Tremko as Sarah Matthews
Mathew McCurley as Norwood Gill
Jeff Maynard as Gozin
Charles Lane as Regent Yarborough
Paul Dooley as Senator Thatch
Dan Castellaneta as Alan Winsdale
Dean Jones as Dean Webster Carlson

Cast as listed in end credits

Christin Hinojosa as Penelope
Eric Schaeffer as Rich Prentiss
Jeff Garlin as Agent Reese
Eddie Deezen as Agent Tucker
Norris Young as Rathouser #7
John Wesley as Dr. Freeman
Sean Gavigan as Prof. Knowlton
Janet Rotblatt as Prof. Goldstein
Adrian Ricard as Mrs. Weaver
Joe Minjares as Brazilian
Iqbal Theba as Sri Lankan
Darshanie Bruite as Princess Ahmiri
John Petlock as Maitre'D
Paul Barselou as Regent Mears
Frank Bausmith as Gent
Renee Ridgeley as Mother
Josh Wolford as Boy
Lelia Goldoni as Hale Club Woman
Jeffrey Lampert as Stage Manager
Peyton Reed as Policeman

Uncredited

Julia Sweeney (television reporter)

Reception

Variety gave the film a moderately positive review, calling it an "utterly silly yarn" that "lacks the zaniness of the original", and complimented Larry Miller's performance.^[3] People gave it a B+ rating and called it a "fun, facile remake" with a good cast.^[4]