The North Avenue Irregulars has Reverend Edward Herrmann, a widowr with two kids coming to town to accept the new post as pastor of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church. Trying to make a big splash he commits a grievous blunder and puts Patsy Kelly in charge of the church's bank account and she gives it to her degenerate gambler husband Douglas Fowley.

Fowley puts it on a horse that doesn't make it and guess what bookie Alan Hale,Jr. doesn't give it back. Bookies are like that.

But that inspires Herrmann to go on a crusade against the bookies. And who does he use for help, his church ladies. All this upsets the straightlaced church secretary Susan Clark.

Dean Jones must not have been available because the reverend was certainly a part Disney Studios would have earmaked for him. Herrman does fine though.

How does it work? The women are earnest but they are also wives and mothers an d not exactly schooled in their mission. That provides laughs for the audience and heartburn for T-Man Michael Constantine.

Funniest in the film are oldtimers Kelly and Fowley. But there are lots of laughs all around in this fine Disney feature.

How much better could it get? You have Cloris Leachman (Phyllis !),Patsy Kelly ( too fun),Alan Hale (Junior... Skipperrrr ! unfortunately, his talented dad was already dead by now),and Ruth Buzzi ! and even Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine from Room 222. strange combination of cast members. plot doesn't really matter... with all that talent, it's going to be fun, no matter what happens. Ed Hermann is the new pastor in town, and when he accidentally loses the church funds to a gambling outfit, he's determined to drive them out of town. and Mrs. Porter (Leachman) is flirting with him. it's all kind of a grand caper, but the actors all play it quite seriously, which works. When the pastor convinces the town women to work together, wacky things start to happen! Pretty funny. no big surprises, but fun entertainment. Directed by Bruce Bilson, king of television series!

Edward Herrman, the newly appointed minister at the North Avenue Church and the ladies of his congregation work with Treasury agents Michael Constantine and Steve Franken to bring down the bookies and numbers ring in their town. Like many of the Disney movies of this period, it is filled with stars and character actors of an earlier era, including Douglas Fowely and Patsy Kelly in their last roles, as well as Karen Valentine, Barbara Harris, Susan Clark and Cloris Leachman.

While the story is good, director Bruce Bilson shoots it for economy rather than effect, with the gags of pure destruction shot in tight framing and quick editing, rather than a more effective medium take and leisurely place of cutting. The result is less funny than chaotic in its impact.