You are here:

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

Name: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
Director: Robert Butler
Released: 1969
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

1.9/10

Minimal

1969

Director

Robert Butler

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

This film embodies the conventions of mid-century Hollywood cinema, emphasizing a singular, homogenous viewpoint that supports existing social hierarchies and moral frameworks. The story structure relies heavily on conventional clichés and a homogeneous cast. By centering on a narrow, Anglo-centric view of college life, the film sidesteps issues of multiculturalism and systemic power structures. In essence, the story upholds the status quo. It employs a traditional moral divide to propel the plot, ensuring the conclusion reinforces respect for current social and academic norms.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight identities. The world presented is strictly focused on straight relationships and gender matching birth-assigned identities.

How does The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes portray gender?

Limited

The male lead drives the story, while female characters mostly serve as friends or romantic interests without much independence or intellectual depth.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes?

Minimal

The story unfolds in a predominantly white, middle-class American setting with little to no racial or ethnic diversity among the characters.

How does The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative emphasizes traditional Western values and a clear moral divide. It promotes respect for established social and academic norms without questioning them.

Does The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes include disability representation?

Limited

The protagonist's 'computer brain' is used as a humorous element without delving into the complexities of neurodiversity or the real experiences of those with disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film offers a straightforward moral framework based on personal integrity and honesty.

Limited or Absent

The cast lacks racial and ethnic diversity, creating a very homogeneous environment.
Female characters have limited independence and intellectual depth compared to the male lead.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight perspectives.
Disability is portrayed as a comedic element rather than a nuanced depiction of lived experiences.

Official Synopsis

Some college students manage to persuade the town's big businessman, A. J. Arno, to donate a computer to their college. When the problem- student, Dexter Riley, tries to fix the computer, he gets an electric shock and his brain turns to a computer; now he remembers everything he reads. Unfortunately, he also remembers information which was in the computer's memory, like Arno's illegal businesses..

How are these scores produced? →