Gus (1976 film)

Gus is a 1976 American sports comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Vincent McEveety. The film stars Edward Asner, Don Knotts, Gary Grimes, and Tim Conway.

The plot centers around Gus, a mule with an uncanny ability to kick a football with incredible accuracy and distance. He is discovered in Yugoslavia and brought to the United States to play for the California Atoms, a fictional American football team with a terrible losing record.

Gus's kicking prowess quickly transforms the Atoms into a winning team, much to the chagrin of the team's scheming owner, Hank Cooper (Asner), and the delight of the coach, Venner (Knotts). However, two bumbling criminals, Spinner (Conway) and Calor (Grimes), attempt to kidnap Gus for ransom, leading to a series of comedic mishaps.

Gus is a lighthearted, family-friendly film featuring slapstick humor and typical Disney-style antics. The film received mixed reviews upon its release, but has since gained a following as a nostalgic favorite among Disney fans. It is considered a minor entry in the studio's catalog of live-action comedies.